Discuss your reaction to the character of Hamlet in the two (2) soliloquies from
ID: 420950 • Letter: D
Question
Discuss your reaction to the character of Hamlet in the two (2) soliloquies from the text. Consider the extent to which you sympathize with him and / or think he is self-absorbed. Explain the manner in which the literary form of soliloquy shapes your view of Hamlet. Identify one (1) or two (2) lines (except "To be, or not to be") that you find interesting or favor, and explain your choice. Pretend you are a modern leader or celebrity facing personal crisis, such as Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Mandela, Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates, Beyoncé, or some other; write a few lines of soliloquy, thinking aloud in front of the audience. (No need to sound Shakespearean).
Explanation / Answer
After reading both soliloquies it seems as if Hamlet is struggling with his inner self in the first soliloquy. He appears to be doubtful of himself as on one hand he wants to carry out his dead father’s wishes and on the other he battles with himself because committing such a heinous act is just not in his character. In the second soliloquy, Hamlet appears to be agonizing over whether or not to kill himself instead of dealing with life’s heartaches. As a result, I sympathize with him. The reasons being that he has lost his beloved father and is faced with an undesirable task that will cause him grief no matter what the outcome is. The literary form of soliloquy helps shape my view of hamlet because it makes him appear more relatable as many of us have suffered from some form of heartache or anguish in our lives.
Two lines that I find interesting are as follows: “May be the devil; and the devil hath power”. This stood out to be because it seems as if he’s trying to convince himself not to kill his uncle because the ghost believed to be his dad could very well be the devil. It’s as if he’s trying to conjure up reasons not to avenge his father’s death.
Thinking aloud as President Obama:
How do I get here?
What did I get myself into?
Nothing is ever appreciated
When I make the wrong call, it’s the end of the word
Yet if I make progression, they still try to take away my accolades.
You simply can’t please everyone!