Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2, Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 129 – 159 SoliloquyLines 129 – 159 Soliloquy

By: Justin W, Jake L, and Taylor LBy: Justin W, Jake L, and Taylor L

Teacher: Mrs. MonoskyTeacher: Mrs. Monosky

Date: Friday, June 10, 2011Date: Friday, June 10, 2011

IntroductionIntroduction

• The soliloquy for act 1, scene 2, 129-159, is The soliloquy for act 1, scene 2, 129-159, is Hamlets first soliloquy which he expresses all his Hamlets first soliloquy which he expresses all his inner thoughts concerning his fathers death and inner thoughts concerning his fathers death and his Uncle marrying his mother Gertrude. Hamlet his Uncle marrying his mother Gertrude. Hamlet is shocked at how quickly his mother remarried. is shocked at how quickly his mother remarried. Hamlet despises his Uncle Claudius and can not Hamlet despises his Uncle Claudius and can not accept him as a father. Hamlet wishes his father accept him as a father. Hamlet wishes his father was still alive since Hamlet describes him as a was still alive since Hamlet describes him as a remarkable king. The troubles Hamlet is remarkable king. The troubles Hamlet is experiencing must stay to himself because if he experiencing must stay to himself because if he reveals his feelings aloud people may become reveals his feelings aloud people may become suspicious to what he is planning. suspicious to what he is planning.

Soliloquy Line BreakdownSoliloquy Line Breakdown

O, that this too too solid flesh would meltThaw and resolve itself into a dew!Or that the Everlasting had not fix'dHis canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!

Hamlet does not want to continue living and is thinking of committing suicide but holds back due to religion beliefs. How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,Seem to me all the uses of this world!Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,That grows to seed; things rank and gross in naturePossess it merely. That it should come to this!

Life is not worth living and that all things become foul.

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• But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:So excellent a king; that was, to this,So excellent a king; that was, to this,Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my motherHyperion to a satyr; so loving to my motherThat he might not beteem the winds of heavenThat he might not beteem the winds of heavenVisit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!

King Hamlet was a terrific king that loved Gertrude very King Hamlet was a terrific king that loved Gertrude very much.much.

• Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,As if increase of appetite had grownAs if increase of appetite had grownBy what it fed on: and yet, within a monthBy what it fed on: and yet, within a monthLet me not think on’t.Let me not think on’t.

Gertrude remarried so soon after King Hamlet died, Gertrude remarried so soon after King Hamlet died, only took a month.only took a month.

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Frailty, thy name is woman!--Frailty, thy name is woman!--A little month, or ere those shoes were oldA little month, or ere those shoes were oldWith which she follow'd my poor father's body,With which she follow'd my poor father's body,Like Niobe, all tears:--why she, even she--Like Niobe, all tears:--why she, even she--O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,Would have mourn'd longer--married with my uncle,Would have mourn'd longer--married with my uncle,My father's brother, but no more like my fatherMy father's brother, but no more like my fatherThan I to Hercules: within a month:Than I to Hercules: within a month:Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tearsEre yet the salt of most unrighteous tearsHad left the flushing in her galled eyes,Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,She married. She married.

After only a month Hamlets mother remarries Claudius his uncle. Hamlet can After only a month Hamlets mother remarries Claudius his uncle. Hamlet can not seem to understand this mix up because he assumed his mother deeply not seem to understand this mix up because he assumed his mother deeply loved his father. loved his father.

O, most wicked speed, to postO, most wicked speed, to postWith such dexterity to incestuous sheets!With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!It is not nor it cannot come to good:It is not nor it cannot come to good:But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.

Nothing good can come out of this, but he must not tell anyone about his Nothing good can come out of this, but he must not tell anyone about his feelings. Hamlet has to keep his thoughts to himself.feelings. Hamlet has to keep his thoughts to himself.

YouTube LinkYouTube Link

• For a better overall understanding of the soliloquy For a better overall understanding of the soliloquy we are going to show a clip from the Hamlet we are going to show a clip from the Hamlet movie.movie.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCBVmiVkzTM&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCBVmiVkzTM&feature=related

significance of the soliloquy to the significance of the soliloquy to the plotplot

• The soliloquy in act 1, scene 2 is very significant to The soliloquy in act 1, scene 2 is very significant to the plot because it shows how Hamlet is feeling at the plot because it shows how Hamlet is feeling at this point in the play. With no one around to hear this point in the play. With no one around to hear him, he is able to express his true feelings. This him, he is able to express his true feelings. This being his first soliloquy of the play, Hamlet speaks being his first soliloquy of the play, Hamlet speaks on how painful the situation is for him. Hamlet on how painful the situation is for him. Hamlet feels as if he is ‘dirty’ just because of his mother’s feels as if he is ‘dirty’ just because of his mother’s decision to remarry so quickly to his uncle. In this decision to remarry so quickly to his uncle. In this soliloquy it clearly shows that he is depressed as soliloquy it clearly shows that he is depressed as he wishes that God didn’t have a rule against he wishes that God didn’t have a rule against suicide. This soliloquy is important to the story as suicide. This soliloquy is important to the story as it outlines exactly what is causing Hamlet’s it outlines exactly what is causing Hamlet’s depression; that being, his father’s death and his depression; that being, his father’s death and his mother’s quick remarriage. If the play did not have mother’s quick remarriage. If the play did not have this soliloquy, the readers would be left to draw this soliloquy, the readers would be left to draw conclusions as to what was creating his depression.conclusions as to what was creating his depression.

Significance to Hamlet Significance to Hamlet and othersand others

• This soliloquy is significant because it shows the This soliloquy is significant because it shows the depth of Hamlet’s sadness and depression. It shows depth of Hamlet’s sadness and depression. It shows just how much he resents King Claudius and just how much he resents King Claudius and foreshadows what may come of this. This soliloquy foreshadows what may come of this. This soliloquy also shows his frustration and isolation from the also shows his frustration and isolation from the society that he is in, and the norms which restrict society that he is in, and the norms which restrict his expression (“But break, my heart; for I must hold his expression (“But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue). The “frailty thy name is woman” quote my tongue). The “frailty thy name is woman” quote illustrates Hamlet’s negative opinion on the illustrates Hamlet’s negative opinion on the weakness of women, particularly his mother weakness of women, particularly his mother Gertrude. This soliloquy will affect Hamlet and Gertrude. This soliloquy will affect Hamlet and Gertrude’s relationship, and could also affect his Gertrude’s relationship, and could also affect his relationships with future woman (i.e. Ophelia).relationships with future woman (i.e. Ophelia).

What methods are usedWhat methods are used

• Methods: Shakespeare uses metaphors and mythology to communicate Methods: Shakespeare uses metaphors and mythology to communicate Hamlet’s thoughts:Hamlet’s thoughts:

• Metaphors: Metaphors:

• -Wishes that his ‘sullied flesh’ will ‘melt into a dew’. Sullied flesh -Wishes that his ‘sullied flesh’ will ‘melt into a dew’. Sullied flesh represents physical life, melting into a dew represents dying. He wants to represents physical life, melting into a dew represents dying. He wants to commit suicide but respects that it is against the teachings of God.commit suicide but respects that it is against the teachings of God.

• -He compares the world to an ‘unweeded garden’ which produces ‘things -He compares the world to an ‘unweeded garden’ which produces ‘things rank and gross it nature’.rank and gross it nature’.

• Mythology:Mythology:

• -Compares his father to Claudius: “Hyperion to a satyr”. Hyperion is a -Compares his father to Claudius: “Hyperion to a satyr”. Hyperion is a titan god, while a satyr is a half man half goat creature.titan god, while a satyr is a half man half goat creature.

• -Compares Gertrude to Niobe, who is known for her everlasting tears. -Compares Gertrude to Niobe, who is known for her everlasting tears. (Illustrating how much she cried after Hamlet’s death, and how it is (Illustrating how much she cried after Hamlet’s death, and how it is despicable that she could re-marry so quickly after that).despicable that she could re-marry so quickly after that).

• -Says that Claudius is no more like his father than Hamlet to Hercules. -Says that Claudius is no more like his father than Hamlet to Hercules.

Parts of the soliloquy that Parts of the soliloquy that support themessupport themes

• The theme violation and reestablishment of The theme violation and reestablishment of order is presented because Hamlet feels like order is presented because Hamlet feels like he has been violated with his fathers death he has been violated with his fathers death occurring, and Claudius remarrying his occurring, and Claudius remarrying his mother so soon after the tragic accident. mother so soon after the tragic accident.

• The theme of revenge comes into play The theme of revenge comes into play because hamlet keeps his thoughts to himself because hamlet keeps his thoughts to himself not letting anyone become aware of his future not letting anyone become aware of his future plans to revenge his father death.plans to revenge his father death.

ConclusionConclusion

• In Hamlet’s first soliloquy of the play, he In Hamlet’s first soliloquy of the play, he speaks on all that contributes to his speaks on all that contributes to his depression which includes his father’s sudden depression which includes his father’s sudden death and mother’s quick remarriage. During death and mother’s quick remarriage. During this soliloquy Shakespeare uses metaphors to this soliloquy Shakespeare uses metaphors to clearly communicate the character’s thoughts clearly communicate the character’s thoughts and feelings. Shakespeare also portrays and feelings. Shakespeare also portrays themes of violation and reestablishment of themes of violation and reestablishment of order. This soliloquy introduces us to Hamlet’s order. This soliloquy introduces us to Hamlet’s mindset throughout the play and is essential mindset throughout the play and is essential to the entire plot.to the entire plot.