Soliloquys Flashcards
Sydney Bolt- what do the soliloquys in Hamlet consist of
the soliloquys in hamlet can be read as involvimng at least three speakers- a passionate revenger, an ironical critic and an actor considering his part
Syndey Bolt on Hamlets 4th Soliloquy
In this soliloquy the actor voice of Hamlet explores the role of malcontent
Michael Hatthaway on the 4th soliloquy
if the soliloquy is addressed to the audience the opening question becomes no longer a confession of personal feeling of doubt, but a proposition for debate: ‘To be or not to be’ addressed to the audience for their consideration. It is then suggested that it ‘is perhaps more involving as a theatrical experience than the ‘objective’ representation of a melancholy hero contemplating suicide’ because it invites the audience to participate in the debate
Diver Wilson on the attitude of Hamlet towards Ophelia=
‘without a doubt the greatest of all puzzles in the play’
17th cent. anoinymous source interpretation of Hamlets 6th soliloquy
‘There is something so very bloody in it, so inhuman, so unworthy of a hero, that i wish our poet had ommited it
Wilson Knight (1930) on Hamlets 6th soliloquy
‘set against this lovely prayer- the fine flower of a human soul in anguish- is the entrance of Hamlet, the late joy of torturing the King’s conscience still written on his face, his eye a glitter with the intoxication of conquest, vengeance on his mind; his purpose altered only by the devilish hope of finding a more damning moment in which to slaughter the King
A.C Bradley 1904 overall comment on Hamlet’s 6th soliloquy
‘the incident of sparing the king is contrived with extraordinary dramatic insight’
According to Bradley why do we think that straight after the play within a play is the best time for Hamlet to kill Claudius
‘the opportunity was perfect. Hamlet could not possibly any longer tell himself that he had no certainty as to his uncle guilt’
‘the external conditions were favourable… in a court as corrupt as Elsinore, he could not have begun by charging the King of murder, but he could have quite safely killed Claudius and given his justification afterwards’, especially given his popularity amongst the people (and Claudius’s unpopularity)
Why does Bradley conclude that Shakespeare’s choice to have Hamlet spare Claudius’s life was the right decision
‘Shakespeare has taken care to give this perfect opportunity so repulsive a character that we can hardly bring ourselves to wish that the hero should accept it. One of his minor difficulties, we have seen, probably was that he was required to attack a defenceless man; and have this difficult is at its maximum’
Hamlets first soliloquy: (where and meaning)
1,2: ‘o that too solid flesh would melt’- hamlet contemplating his fathers death/ mortality
Hamlets second soliloquy: (where and meaning)
1,5: ‘o all you host of heaven’ digesting what the ghost has told him
Hamlets thrid soliloquy: (where and meaning)
2,2 ‘ O what a rouge and peasant slave am i’ self loathing due to his inertia/ delay
Hamlets fourth soliloquy: (where and meaning)
3,1 ‘To be or not to be’ Hamlet contemplates suicide/ mortality/ the afterlife
Hamlets fifth soliloquy: (where and meaning)
3,2 ‘Now could i drink hot blood’ rage fuelled hyper masculine attitude- he has confirmed Claudius’s guilt and is ready to take his revenge
Hamlets sixth soliloquy: (where and meaning)
3,3 ‘Now might i do it’ when overlooking Claudius praying and deciding whether to kill him or not
