Hamlet

A detailed Summary of Hamlet

Authors use various literary elements to give insight into the mental

composition of their characters. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,"

we can trace Hamlet's mental process through his soliloquies.

Hamlet's first soliloquy reveals him to be thoroughly disgusted with

Gertrude, Claudius, and the world in general. "How weary, stale, flat and

unprofitable, seem to me all the uses of this world" (1284), he said. He is

saddened by the death of his father, who he admired as a king and husband to his

mother. His grief over his father's death is compounded by his mother's hasty

marriage to Claudius. Hamlet protests, "a beast, that wants discourse of reason,

would have mourn'd longer" (1285). The worst part is that he cannot tell them

In his second soliloquy, Hamlet becomes curious and suspicious after

hearing of the ghost. "My father's spirit in arms! All is not well; I doubt

some foul play" (1287), he said. Haml

traveller returns" (1317). He goes on to say, "Thus conscience does make

In the fifth soliloquy, Hamlet hits upon a mental nadir. As he

life's misfortunes or to die young and bypass all the hardships. Hamlet

suggests that the reason we choose life is because we know nothing about death,

than pride. Hamlet then feels ashamed of his unwillingness to go after Claudius.

vows, "O, from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth"

that I...must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words" (1314). He also

Now, whether it be bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple of thinking too

finally avenge his father. After talking with a captain in Fortinbras' army,

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Approximate Word count = 656
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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