Hamlet's Soliloquies
I. 2. 129-159:
During the first soliloquy the audience is introduced to a depressed, melancholy Hamlet. The reasons for his state become obvious as he explains his plight. Merely two months earlier his father had died, this causing him much distress. To make matters worse, his mother had already remarried. Not only remarried, but remarried to Hamlet's uncle, Claudius. For this Hamlet is utterly disoriented, wishing only to melt away.
Within this soliloquy the audience gets the distinct impression that Hamlet is passionate, intelligent, and deeply thoughtful. His passion and intellect are clearly reflected in the first two lines of his speech: O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt,/ Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,?. This displays Hamlet's passion for wanting to melt away in highly articulate language, thus showcasing much about Hamlet's emotional character.
I. 5. 87-107:
The second soliloquy transpires immediately after the ghost of Hamlet's father explains his murder. As one would expect Hamlet is quite shaken by the experience. In this soliloquy we see an element of insanity brewing within Hamlet. Being educated, he is aware that the ghost may not have actually been his father, but rather the devil tempting him. After contemplation, Hamlet swears revenge.
Hamlet is plagued by a degree of insanity during the second soliloquy. He has not quite grasped the reality of his situation and subtle indications of irrationality can be seen. This scene is important because it sets the stage for the remainder of the play. From this point onward Hamlet is continuously chasing his father's assailant, as well as his own sanity.
II. 2. 580-639:
In the third soliloquy Hamlet realizes he is procrastinating. After seeing the player weep over Hecuba in fiction, he recognizes he has lost focus and is upset with himself. Needing assurance that Claudius truly murdered his father, Hamlet decides to have the players perform The Murder of Gonzago, a play that is incredibly similar to the situation in Denmark. Hamlet decides he will be able to determine Claudius's guilt by his reaction to the play.
Hamlet is shown to be very anxious in his third speech. He yearns to kill his uncle, feeling obligated to do so, but remains hesitant. This hesitation arises from the doubt buried deep within him. Thus, Hamlet's balance of passion and over analyzing can be seen swaying towards the latter.
III. 1. 56-90:
The fourth soliloquy depicts Hamlet in his most deplorable state. He enveloped in grief over his own life and circumstances. He contemplates death as an alternative to living in such a rank environment. However, Hamlet concludes that suicide is not an option because of the uncertainty of the afterlife.
The fourth speech displays the inner struggle Hamlet is facing. He is overwhelmed and in need of direction. His inability to choose his actions has rendered him useless, and will eventually lead to his demise. The fourth soliloquy is important in that it makes obvious Hamlet's fatal character flaw.
III. 3. 66-89:
Hamlet is contemplating killing Claudius, whom is in front of him, during the fifth soliloquy. Originally, when Hamlet happened upon Claudius praying, he was going to slay him immediately. However, believe this would send Claudius to Heaven, rather than Hell, Hamlet refrains. Hamlet feels that by sending Claudius to Heaven he would not achieve revenge.
The fifth soliloquy clearly shows Hamlet's fatal flaw. Presented with the opportunity to kill Claudius, Hamlet once again chooses to wait. His procrastination and doubt not only cost him this opportunity but also later, his life.
IV. 4. 33-66:
Preceding Hamlet's sixth soliloquy Hamlet views Prince Fortinbras marching toward Poland. Seeing Fortinbras causes Hamlet to look at himself yet again. Fortinbras marches many soldiers into Poland only to fight for a tiny parcel of land, however he is also fighting for his honor. Hamlet finally comes to the realization that he is a coward, admitting his fatal flaw. He then resolves that he must kill Claudius, before he kills him.
By recognizing his cowardice Hamlet finally confronts his defect. Hamlet actually addresses this in line 46: [I] ?ever three parts coward), I do not know?. Through recognition Hamlet finally is able to enrage himself to the point at which he could actually kill Claudius. This is Hamlet's turning point, the point were he grows from coward to brave.
Part C:
The most important function of Hamlet's soliloquies is not to describe his reactions to the occurrences in the play or to describe his character, but rather the combination of both. Each soliloquy serves a different overall function, sometimes one more than the other, but always in combination with each other. The first, second, and third soliloquies serve mainly to describe Hamlet's reactions to what is occurring in the play while the fourth, fifth, and sixth allow the audience top delve deeper into Hamlet's soul. They are all important to the overall tone of the play, but each plays a very specific role. Hamlet was an intriguing individual whose fatal flaw was his cowardice. Through his soliloquies the audience is capable of interpreting both the actions of the play, as well as the main character, Hamlet.