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Theme Of Hamlet Soliloquy

Decent Essays

In Act 3 scene 1 of Hamlet we are faced with the soliloquy that contains one of the most famous lines from English literature: “To be, or not to be – that is the question” (III.i.57). This passage tends to show a large amount of evidence of the theme “Action vs. Contemplation”. Through poetic devices, tone, and sensory imagery we are able to analyze the theme and Hamlets tragic flaw: indecisiveness/inability to act.
Poetic devices are a great way to get a point across efficiently. Within Hamlets soliloquy we see many instances of these poetic devices that work towards the theme of “Action vs. Contemplation”. Hamlet uses personification within the lines: “And thus the native hue resolution / Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,” (III.i.85-86). This quote shows that he is far too caught up in his thoughts to focus on working on the action. Hamlet says that resolution has become sick and clouded. We see how he is still very cloudy minded and is still having difficulty making decisions. In this soliloquy we also see Hamlets hesitation. He continuously says, “To die, to sleep,” (III.i.61), and it seems to be him delaying the inevitable by his uncertainty yet again. Using repetition he seems to just be wasting time to have longer to be able to make a decision. He cannot decide between death and just running away from his problems. Finally we see some hyperbole and metaphor within the lines 58-60; “Tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / or to take arms against a sea of troubles,” (III.i). Contemplation is very prominent in this passage due to him debating whether or not he would like to deal with what life has to offer or go against it and fight. This shows his tragic flaw of his indecisiveness and shows off the theme quite nicely. He is comparing the slings and arrows of outrageous future to the suffering that future can bring. It is unpredictable and there is no way of knowing what will happen and what heartache a person will be put through in their lives. Hamlet has no idea what the future contains for him and the suffering of his father’s death getting to him. He then uses a hyperbole by calling it a sea of troubles. The hyperbole demonstrates how he is

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