Shakespeare uses Hamlet's soliloquies to give the audience insight to his mental composition as well as to show the development of the themes and conflicts that are presented in the play. Hamlet's fourth soliloquy takes place while he believes the King is praying and therefore involves much religious controversy. Preceding his soliloquy the characters had attended a play which gave Hamlet the evidence he needed in order to know if Claudius was guilty of his father's murder or not. When Hamlet became sure of Claudius" guiltiness by the look upon his face at the play, he knew the time had come to seek revenge. So, once Guildenstern and Rosencrantz leave Claudius alone and he falls to his knees to "pray", Hamlet appears secretly beside him debating about the murder. Hamlet's fourth soliloquy is his deliberation over whether or not he should murder Claudius.
Hamlet is indifference about murdering Claudius as although he wants to know, he believes that it shouldn't be done while Claudius is praying. Hamlet fears that if he murders Claudius while he is praying he will go to Heaven, a place where Hamlet's father never had the chance to go. But, in actuality, Hamlet appears unsure of his father's destination so he assumes he is in purgatory repenting for his sins. Hamlet wishes for Claudius to join his brother there and not be given the glory of Heaven, because then he wouldn't be truly avenging his father's death. Therefore, Hamlet decides to kill Claudius while he is in the act of committing a sin to ensure his fate of going to hell. .
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Not only does this soliloquy reveal the continuing conflict of Hamlet choosing to murder or not; but, it has now inflated this conflict to Hamlet only being able to put Claudius to death while he is being sinful. Hamlet becomes plagued about the murder when he sees that Claudius is praying because he knows Claudius will be sent to the wrong place.
Hamlet Hamlet is a young man who's father dies and his life is turned upside down. ... Hamlet is battling his conscience. ... Hamlet is extremely indecisive. ... Hamlet wants to kill his uncle because he killed hamlets father. ... Hamlet only trusts Horatio. ...
The old king Hamlet is murder by Claudius and therefore Hamlet must take his revenge. ... Hamlet begins to doubt the ghost. ... Hamlet is contradicts himself. ... Hamlet's next problem is that of morality. ... Hamlet's flaw of irresolution, the uncertainty on how to act or proceed, is shown when Hamlet sees a play and the passion the actors had, after Hamlet's third soliloquy, in Hamlet's fourth soliloquy, and in Hamlet's indecisive pursuit in avenging his father's death. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. ... Laertes is decisive and Hamlet is not. ... Fortinbras acts as Hamlet's inspiration; he motivates Hamlet to go forward with his plan to kill Claudius, which in the end leads to Hamlet's downfall. ... Horatio is Hamlet's friend and solid rock on whom Hamlet can trust and depend. ... Horatio cared for Hamlet greatly, and so Hamlet cared greatly for Horatio. ...
KING Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? HAMLET At supper. ... If Claudius does not stand on one side of a titanic conflict, his betrayal of Hamlet's father and Marriage to Hamlet's mother, do ignite one: Hamlet's conflict with himself. ... In the end Hamlet dies along with most of the principle characters whether they were duplicities against Hamlet or not. ... By the end of the play Hamlet has thoroughly explored the question but like Hamlet, it remains an enigma. ...
Hamlet The study of Shakespeare's Hamlet has been one that is very extensive as well as enormous. ... A critic of Hamlet once said, "a man set out to read all the books about Hamlet would have time to read nothing else, not even Hamlet." ... "Hamlet is the tragedy of reflection. ... For where Hamlet saw that "the time is out of joint," Hamlet himself was "out of joint." ... (Mack. 64) Hamlet begins his questioning with the death of elder Hamlet. ...
Hamlet 1 Throughout Hamlet, Hamlet expresses his thoughts via several soliloquies. ... In this scene, Hamlet is being "set up" by Ophelia, Polonius, and Claudius. ... This is quite different than the "emotional Hamlet" seen in 1.2, or the "vengeful Hamlet" seen in 1.5. ... The three claim to be concerned for Hamlet's mental state of mind. This is ironic, because as the characters within the play see Hamlet mentally deteriorating, readers see Hamlet mentally developing. ...
