Hamlets Issues

Rage/Grief upon revelation of his

fathers murder by Claudius.
Shows the inconsistency between
outward appearance and inward
desires/natures of characters.
Memory

Religious Uncertainty Hamlet does

not know whether to look to heaven
or hell to understand the revelation
of the ghost.

Gertrudes disloyalty Hamlet still

worries about this despite the ghost
telling him to leave her alone.
Misogynistic natures throughout the
play with Ophelia and Gertrude
Academically driven, not a warrior

Distraction from his fathers revenge

Lack of Strength/Power/Will to carry

out the ghosts command

Recurrent Images
O villain, villain, smiling, damned
villain! [] At least I am sure it may
be so in Denmark
That one may smile, and smile, and
be a villain;
records
All saws of books, all forms, all
pressures past,
book and volume of my brain
Remember thee!
while memory holds a seat
O all you host of heaven!
And shall I couple hell?

O most pernicious woman!

book - he will write everything in

his notebook which is referring to his
mind (mental notes)
distracted globe (97)
trivial fond records (99)

But bear me stiffly up (95)

References to Issues/Images

Be though a spirit of health or

goblin damned/Bring with thee airs
from heaven or blasts from hell
(1.4-40)
The spirit I have seen/May be the
devil (2.2-610)
Frailty thy name is woman (1st
Soliloquy)
Get thee to a nunnery (3.1-121)
Misogyny towards Ophelia

Distractions
Polonius death
Incestuous marriage
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Ophelia
By indirections find directions out
(2.1-66)

Second Soliloquy O all you host of heaven!

Before Soliloquy:

The ghost of the dead King leaves having ordered Hamlet to take revenge upon Claudius. The ghost told
Hamlet that as he slept in the garden, Claudius caused a foul and most unnatural murder by pouring poison
into his ear.
The poison in the ear connects to the ear motif found in other parts of the play but in a more physical instead
of verbal manner. Hamlet is conflicted on what he should do which is shown in the soliloquy.
The description of King Hamlets death = disease imagery in the play.
Ear Motif is a medium for deception and betrayal. (Polonius spying on Hamlet and Gertrudes conversation,
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spying on Hamlet, etc.)
Ghost would not talk unless Hamlet was alone which makes him question his own sanity as he was alone
when he heard the ghosts commandment.

After Soliloquy

Horatio and Marcellus enter. Hamlet makes them swear to not reveal to anyone what happened this night and
to not reveal his plans of acting mad. The ghost also (his voice only) forces them to swear on Hamlets sword.
Although he says it is an act at this point, later on his actions make it difficult to see whether it is still an act or
if it has become reality.

Third Soliloquy O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!

Hamlets Issues
Self-worth Hamlet is questioning
himself.
Hamlet also insults himself.

Recurrent Images
Am I a coward? (582)
Who calls me villain? (582)
Why, what an ass I am!(594)
And fall a cursing, like a very
drab,/A scullion(598)

References to Issues/Images
Than I to Hercules (1.2-154)

Hamlet is not passionate enough to

act on his feelings and for his cause
(Avenge his father). Hamlet berates
himself for not being passionate
after seeing how the actor can
create a much more intense feeling
on stage. Hamlet doesnt think that
he mourned enough for his father.
(Pyrrhus mourning Hecuba)

Like a dreamy fellow, not full of my

cause,
...What would he do,
Had he the motive and the cue for
passion
That I have? He would drown the
stage with tears (571)
Whats Hecuba to him, or he to
Hecuba (569) Player has no
connection to Hecuba but is able to
feel and express the grief of Pyrrhus.
Prompted to my revenge by
heaven and hell,/Must, like a whore,
unpack my heart with words (580)
I should have fatted all the region
kites/With this slaves offal (590)
Abuses me to damn me (615)

Young Fortinbras, the foil of Hamlet,

is hot-headed and prone to
impulsive actions.

Flaw of hesitation Hamlet urges

himself to take action

Doesnt feel the ghost has done any

good.

Tis unmanly grief (1.2-94) Contrasts with Claudius comment.

Passion is unmanly.

distracted globe (1.5-97)

O all you host of heaven!

And shall I couple hell? (1.5-92)
The time is out of joint! O cursed
spite! That ever I was born to set it
right (1.5-188)

Before Soliloquy:

Hamlet and Polonius were watching the Players monologue for Pyrrhus and Hecuba. The players passionate
rendition of the Pyrrhus and Hecuba Pyrrhus dies and Hecuba mourns his death.
Polonius breaks his character of long-winded speeches by saying this is too long in reference to the players
rendition.

After Soliloquy

The next scene after the soliloquy happens on the next day, the day of the play within the play. Claudius
and Gertrude are asking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlets behaviour.
They tell them that Hamlet feels distracted which connects to the distracted globe from the second
soliloquy. Hamlet with much forcing of his disposition or with effort received the two friends but he was
uninclined to talk.
Hamlet devises a way to test Claudius (Observe his body language to see if Claudius appears guilty during the
play) which happens in the next act.

Fourth Soliloquy To be or not to be

Hamlets Issues
Should he commit suicide?

Recurrent Images
To be or not to be
To sleep-perchance to dream: ay,
theres the rub (65)

Fear of death

The undiscovered country, from

whose bourn/ No traveler returns,
puzzles the will (79)
what dreams may come (74)
dread of something after
death (86)
Or to take arms against a sea of
troubles (59)
With this regard their currents turn
awry,/And lose the name of action
(87)
To grunt and sweat under a weary
life (77)
bear those ills(81)

Questions whether it is better to act

or not to act.
Hesitation

Hatred of Life

References to Issues/Images
Hamlet curses god for making
suicide immoral. His cannon
gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
(1.2-129)

distracted globe (1.5-97)

The time is out of joint! O cursed

spite! That ever I was born to set it
right (1.5-188)

Before Soliloquy:

Claudius and Gertrude are asking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlets behaviour.

They tell them that Hamlet feels distracted which connects to the distracted globe from the second
soliloquy. Hamlet with much forcing of his disposition or with effort received the two friends but he was
uninclined to talk.
Claudius and Polonius decide to hide to spy on Hamlet. They use Ophelia to help their spying.

After Soliloquy
Hamlet meets Ophelia in the Get thee to the nunnery scene. Hamlet acts polite until she tries to return a gift
he had given her. He denies that every giving it. She says gifts are meaningless when givers prove unkind.

Hamlet harasses Ophelia asking if she is honest and fair. Ophelia is now convinced that Hamlet is insane, and
attempts to call on the heavens to help him. This is reminiscent of Hamlets uncertainty; O all you host of
heaven [] And shall I couple hell?

Hamlet finally makes a threat to Claudius before he leaves. "I say, we will have no more marriage. Those that
are married already, all but one shall live."

Fifth Soliloquy Tis now the very witching time of night

Hamlets Issues
Force Gertrudes confession
Hamlet must be cruel to his mother
although he still loves her. But he
must feign these violent intentions.
Hamlet must not go overboard in
forcing the confession.

Hamlet feels ready to murder for the

Recurrent Images
"My tongue and soul in this be
hypocrites" (405)
I will speak daggers to her, but use
none (404)
Soft! Now to my mother! (400)
I will speak daggers to her, but use
none (404)
O heart, lost not thy nature (401)
let not ever/ The soul of Nero enter
this firm bosom (402) Nero is a
Roman emperor who had his mother
murdered.
witching [] Now could I drink

References to Issues/Images
Hamlet is becoming like the players
who so mystified him in 2.2. Is it
not monstrous that this player here,
[] Could force his soul so to his
own conceit (556)

O all you host of heaven!

right causes but is unsure if he

would be seen the same by god.
Uncertain if orders come from
heaven or hell.

hot/blood (397) Witches were

hunted by religious people. Hamlet
will become like a witch if he
commits murder. He feels ready to
drink blood (kill) but is afraid of
being condemned by god.

And shall I couple hell? (2nd

Soliloquy)

Before Soliloquy:
Hamlets plan to catch the conscience of the king has been successful. The play within the play has come to its
end. Claudius has left to his chamber thus Hamlet experiences a surge of confidence which is reminiscent of the first
half of this soliloquy. His next plan is to force Gertrude to make a full confession.
After Soliloquy
Claudius speaks with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and decides to send Hamlet to England. Hamlet sees Claudius
praying and is vulnerable. But in the next soliloquy, Hamlet refrains from killing him. The principle reason being that
Claudius will be sent to heaven and not suffer for his sins due to his prayers.

Sixth Soliloquy Now might I do it pat, now a is a-praying

Hamlets Issues
Restrains himself from killing
Claudius If he kills him in prayer,
Claudius will be sent to heaven as
he is seeking forgiveness for his
sins.
He wonders whether God will
disregard Claudius prayers and
send him to hell if Hamlet were to
kill him now.
Hamlet must kill him during a sinful
act.

Recurrent Images
I, his sole son, do this same villain
send/To heaven (77)
To take him in the purging of his
soul (85)
With all his crimes broad blown, as
flush as May;/And how his audit
stands, who knows save heaven?
(81)
When he is drunk asleep, or in his
rage,/Or in th incestuous pleasure
(89)

References to Issues/Images
Claudius is not sincere in prayer
My words fly up, my thoughts
remain below:
Words without thoughts never to
heaven go. (3.3-97)
O all you host of heaven!
And shall I couple hell? (2nd
Soliloquy)
(Religious Uncertainty)

Before Soliloquy:
Claudius speaks with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and decides to send Hamlet to England. Polonius enters and
says that he will spy on Hamlet and Gertrude later on. Polonius leaves and Claudius enters into prayer to ask for
forgiveness.
After Soliloquy
Hamlet talks to Gertrude to force her confession. He notices someone spying on them and with no hesitation stabs
him (Polonius). This breaks the character of Hamlet as he is generally more hesitant. It is similar to the
impulsiveness of his foil, the young Fortinbras.

Seventh Soliloquy How all occasions do inform against me

Hamlets Issues
Questions Gods design of Man
(Religious Uncertainty)
Wishes he had the impulsiveness of
animals and his foil Fortinbras. But
he would lose the ability of reason.

Recurrent Images
Sure he that made us with such
large discourse, [] That capability
and godlike reason (36)
Bestial oblivion, or some craven
scruple (40)

References to Issues/Images

Before Soliloquy:
After Hamlet has spoken to a Norwegian captain and learnt that Fortinbras troops are about invade Poland which
hath in it no profit, but the name. This information stimulates Hamlets thoughts of revenge. Fortinbras is Hamlets
foil and unlike Hamlet, is quick to act and has no hesitation to carry out his revenge. Hamlet, after hearing this news,
thinks that thousands of soldiers are ready to die for land which is worth nothing but name while Hamlet, with a
reasonable cause for revenge, is still unable to do it.
After Soliloquy