Hamlet’s incapability to avenge his father is shown throughout the soliloquys, and shows the feeling behind the troubled prince. The “to be or not to be” soliloquy improves my understanding of Hamet’s failure as a revenger by seeing his feelings about death. What hamlet expresses throughout this soliloquy, is that he sees death as an escape and compares it to sleeping; which in fact is a very peaceful and restful matter, which he then compares to “the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to” during life. Hamlet shows throughout the soliloquy that he wants to kill himself, he’d much rather die but clearly cannot. In the soliloquy he says “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all”.
Shakespeare thoroughly brings out Hamlet’s feelings with his manipulation of diction devices. In line 136, Hamlet says the hyphenated word used as an adjective “self-slaughter”, referring to the fact that he wishes God had not made it a sin (suicide). He continues on, speaking religious words such as “God” (136, 154) and “Heaven” (145, 146) to continue explaining that he feels as if suicide seems like the best way to get out of life in a cruel world, but Hamlet feels that he cannot go about doing this because of religion. The repetition of the word “month” (142, 149, 151, 158) is caused by Hamlet wishing to reiterate how short of a time it was from the time of his father’s death until his mother’s remarriage to Claudius. Lastly, in line 137, Hamlet employs the emotion-laden words “weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable” to yet again bring about his thoughts of suicide and say that this is how the world is -- gloomy.
Hamlet’s dejected state after king Hamlet’s tragic death, his strong adoration of his father, and his criticism of his mother are detailed within this segment. After his father’s heartbreaking decease, Hamlet experiences powerful feelings of depression. Shakespeare uses descriptive imagery, where Hamlet hopes his “too-solid flesh would melt” (line 129), ending his anguished life. Exaggerating his pain, Hamlet exhibits extreme discontent in his current position. No longer satisfied with the life that god has bestowed upon him, the protagonist contemplates suicide, wishing “the Everlasting had not fix’d his cannon ‘gainst self-slaughter” (line 131-132).
They decided to jump to their death verses been burned alive and suffer a slow and painful death. Author Norman Cousin made great points on supporting his argument. The Dusens didn’t want to suffer a slow and painful death. Therefore, they decided on a self-inflicted death instead. Just maybe it should be a human right.
“To Be on Not To Be” Response to Literature I. Hamlet’s internal conflict that he reveals during his, “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquy are the struggles between whether to either live or die. He explains to us all of the differences between life and death. He says that is it truly worth living when you have to deal with all of the nasty things in life. Or is it better to instead fight against all of these issues that are going on in Hamlet’s life. When he says fighting against it he means that it will be a lot easier to just put an end of his life by committing suicide.
The line “To be or not to be – that is the question: wether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer...or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and, by opposing, end them.” (III.I.64) is actually Hamlet musing with the idea of killing himself (which they never tell you when you learn it in grade school). His ID is telling him that would be the quickest way to escape it all instantly, without any regard for the future “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time... When he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin?”(III.I.78). His superego tells him not to, to keep pursuing the murder of Claudius and to bear in mind that suicide is a sin, punishable by hell “Who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life, but that the dread of something after death...”(III.I.86). His ego is caught in the middle of the two, weighing pros and cons in order to decide what will be best for hamlet,
As Claudius in deep prayer repents his sins, Hamlet ceases to act upon the revenge that is dwelling inside of him. “To take him in the purging of his soul When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No. Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent.” (Act 3, Scene 3, 85-87). Hamlet’s idealistic perception to have the death of Claudius perfectly plotted leads to his demise, as it allows for Claudius to plot a death for Hamlet.
Also by referring to line five the “pictures” of death, is implied that sleep is just a short resemblance of death, making death seem effortless and comprehensible, removing the fear of the unknown. In the first section, John Donne personifies death. Donne compares death to sleep; since sleep is more pleasurable then death must be good. The best men willingly go to death and they rest their bones and their soul goes to heaven. He addresses death as an equal or inferior.
The stream of consciousness and antithesis is employed to portray the sacrifices of friendship. The contrast between the ambitions that they harboured and the despondency he is struck with is demonstrated when the narrator says “I really thought I’d be moving back this month. But I won’t of course. Not after blowing my exams.” The antithesis between hope and despair encapsulate that relationships unhinge the equality within a relationship and can be emotionally and psychologically fluctuating for the person making sacrifices. Tim Winton also demonstrates an antithesis between the present and the future, where people in a relationship are morally obliged to give up their future plans for the short-term pleasure of companionship.
The readers introduction to Hamlet and King Claudius occurs in Act I Scene ii where the King explains that he has married his sister in law with mixed feelings but he believes Hamlet’s mourning should seize, to which his nephew replies with disdain and offense. This sets the mood for the relationship between the two characters as well as set Hamlet up for his first soliloquy, seen in Act I Scene ii line 133 O, that is too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve into dew! Or that the everlasting had not fix’d His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! Oh God! God!