The play Hamlet one of William Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays of all time. Inscribed in the early 1600s, Hamlet introduces a series of protagonist character’s soliloquies that are referenced to this day in many forms of literature. The protagonist hamlet goes through crucial changes from the beginning of the play to the end. Hamlet’s transformation from a helpless man in anguish into a determined, self-assured man is revealed in the soliloquies which are reflections of his experiences of self-realization. There is a change from the first soliloquy to the seventh soliloquy by Hamlet’s character. His growth is seen best through the soliloquies being that is the only time that Hamlet is able to truly open up and let out his inner thoughts and feelings.
Soliloquy number one is where Hamlet’s true self is first shown to the audience. This soliloquy is in the first Act 1 Scene 2. In the play, Hamlet is depressed and in what was called a deep melancholy state which the King and Queen believe took over Hamlet’s mind. The Death of Hamlet’s Father was one of the many reasons behind his depression, his mother also remarried his uncle abruptly and the result of the marriage places his uncle as the replacement King. Being that the death of Hamlet’s father was so fresh Hamlet, was enraged when the courts didn’t grieve for a long period of time the King and Queen didn’t feel that the court had the time to mourn for so long. Hamlet believed that since the King, Queen and the courts acted the way they did about his father’s death, he refers to the world as a “Unweeded Garden” meaning the world is a place where only bad things grow.
This soliloquy is the start of Hamlet’s depression and anguish towards his uncle and his mother’s disloyalty. Hamlet is highly upset about all the new changes in his life which make him contemplate suicide, although he knows he cannot do that the thought is still there. This soliloquy is only the beginning of the emotional ride that Hamlet goes through. After the first soliloquy from Act 1, another one happens in Act 3, Scene 1. In this soliloquy, Hamlet proclaims a lot of what he is feeling these emotions are a lot worse than the ones in act 1. Hamlet had created a plan and was starting to regain confidence back just for it to be crashed and his depression to hit harder than it was before, Hamlet started to play mind games with himself which causes him to be unsure of what action to take and disciplines himself for falling behind on plotting the revenge of his father’s death.
“To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.”
(3.1.56-58)
In this section, Hamlet is playing with the thought of suicide once again, because he does not want to live with the suffering of losing his father. Hamlet is so depressed he wants to commit suicide just to free himself from the pain and sorrow. Hamlet’s biggest difficulty is figuring out if he should suffer through what his life become or fight against the misfortune. Hamlet is unsure of what he wants, he would like to be free of the misery he feels all the time but is scared of death, Hamlet does not know what awaits him in the afterlife and this adds to the depression. In this soliloquy it shows that Hamlet’s depression is worst in comparison the first soliloquy, he is debating further into the idea of suicide.
The seventh soliloquy in the play occurs in Act 4 Scene 4 and portrays an entirely new Hamlet compare to previous one. This soliloquy occurs after Hamlet learn that Fortinbras is about to invade a part of Poland. Hamlet is turning himself around and getting rid of the melancholy mood that was taking place in the beginning, he realizes at this point what he wants to do and changes into a better person compared to where his mindset was in the beginning and throughout the entire play. In this soliloquy, Hamlet changes and finds the courage to finally do his dead father’s deed. After the news of Fortinbras is going to invade Poland Hamlet scolds himself once more for holding off on getting his fathers revenge. Hamlet believes if thousands of soldiers would die for the land then he could die for the revenge of his father, Hamlet believes every man should live with a purpose which should be fulfilled and he realizes his purpose is to avenge his father’s murder by killing Claudius.
“O, from this time forth my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth.”
(4.4.65-66)
At the very end of soliloquy, Hamlet says that quote, this shows Hamlets determination to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet is no longer afraid he knows what action he must take and has gained the confidence that he lost when he first learned of his father’s death. Hamlet struggled throughout the play with his emotions from suicide to depression to uncertainty to assurances realizing his purpose.