Hamlets Soliloquy Essay - 1626 Words

When analyzing Shakespeares Hamlet through the deconstructionist lens various elements of the play come into sharper focus. Hamlets beliefs about himself and his crisis over indecision are expounded upon by the binary oppositions created in his soliloquies. Hamlet’s first soliloquy comes in act one scene two, as Hamlet reflects on the current state of events. The chief focus of this soliloquy is essentially the rottenness of the king, queen and the world in general. In this passage the reader is introduced to Hamlet pseudo-obsession with death and suicide, which later will become a chief point of indecision. In this particular speech, however, Hamlet is fairly confident. He wishes that his â€Å"too too sullied flesh would melt†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Hamlet also manages to both degrade himself and his uncle in another comparison, saying his uncle was â€Å"no more like my father / Than I to Hercules† (1.2.152-3). Though such strong comparisons to romantic ized and mythical figures could are partially simple hyperbole, they also underscore some of the insecurity in Hamlet’s character. The value in recognizing this comes as Hamlet descends into his madness, whether real or imaginary, where the reader can see that, even before Hamlet deliberately decides to appear to be â€Å"mad† he has certain issues and insecurities with his own feelings. Even more significantly, this passage begins to elaborate on Hamlet’s relationship with his mother. Gertrude represents an interesting dilemma for the deconstructionist critic, as she does not create or involve herself in many conflicts or oppositions. She manages to significantly affect the plot and the subtext of the play while seeming almost insignificant as a character at first glance through the deconstructionist lens. She does not overtly affect events, and often plays the victim of circumstance. This very insignificance creates an issue for Hamlet, who is clearly quite di sgusted with her behavior. He vehemently disapproves of the speed of her marriage to Claudius, saying that â€Å"a beast, that wants discourse of reason, / Would have mourned longer† (1.2.150-1), but can find no other strong criticism of her other than how fast she remarried. This strikes at theShow MoreRelatedHow Hamlets Mental State Changes in the Soliloquies in Hamlet by Shakespeare745 Words   |  3 PagesHow Hamlets Mental State Changes in the Soliloquies in Hamlet by Shakespeare In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet† there are four major soliloquies that reflect the character of Hamlet. In this paper I will be analyzing and discussing how these four soliloquies reflect changes in Hamlet’s mental state; his changing attitudes toward life and the other characters in the play, particularly the women; and his reflection on the task of revenge that has been assigned to him. 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