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Hamlet Soliloquy Analysis Essay

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Hamlet Soliloquy Analysis

As Act I of Shakespeare's Hamlet concludes, a conversation between the protagonist Hamlet and the ghost of his deceased father, King Hamlet occurs. In response to the ghost's request for Hamlet to take revenge, Hamlet shares his thoughts with the audience in a soliloquy. Through vows and promises, Hamlet's oral reaction to the King's request exposes his full will for revenge. In addition, Hamlet's word-choice begins to exhibit the blind passion and zeal that characterizes his actions throughout the remainder of the play. These components of Hamlet's second soliloquy together exemplify his complete determination, which ultimately allows him to succeed in avenging his …show more content…

v. 98-100). Hamlet is willing to completely erase his knowledge, to purge his mind, and to begin this task with a blank slate. He continues, vowing, "thy commandment all alone shall live / Within the book and volume of my brain, / unmixed with baser matter," (I. v. 102-104). By pledging this resolution, Hamlet shows his willingness to devote his entire existence to taking revenge. He will allow nothing to distract him, nothing to adulterate his will power, and nothing to deter him until he takes revenge. Hamlet makes one final vow in the second soliloquy, addressing his uncle, King Claudius, "So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word: / It is 'Adieu, adieu, remember me,'/ I have sworn't," (I. v. 110-112). Adieu in french means good-bye, and with these simple yet unsympathetic words, Hamlet pledges that he will kill his uncle. This absolute determination to achieve revenge fuels Hamlet's ultimate success.

Throughout the second soliloquy, Hamlet carefully chooses passionate words that demonstrate his charged emotions. After digesting the information from the ghost, Hamlet unleashes a vicious verbal assault on the family members that he suspects of evil. He shouts, "O most pernicious woman!" (I. v. 105), referring to

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