Table of ContentsAn In-Depth Analysis of Hamlet's First SoliloquyHamlet's References to Greek MythologyWorks Cited:Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 1, Scene II, is his first soliloquy of the play and, therefore, allows the audience to see his inner thoughts for the first time. The subjects of this monologue are numerous: the death of his father, his mother's response to that death, his mother's remarriage to his uncle, and Hamlet's own sense of anger at the way his life has turned out. deteriorated in a short time. Shakespeare uses rich imagery to describe Hamlet's sense of inner turmoil. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAn in-depth analysis of Hamlet's first soliloquyShakespeare begins Hamlet's soliloquy with immediate ambiguity. The word "defiled", meaning soiled or spoiled, is used to describe Hamlet's flesh. This word may be used because the incestuous relationship between his mother and uncle corrupted his family name and the purity of his blood. However, there are two other, equally relevant, interpretations of the word Shakespeare intended to use: first, "ally", meaning "attacked" or "assaulted", is context-related because Hamlet may feel victimized in these circumstances. . This would be consistent with Hamlet's morose state of mind in the soliloquy and his self-pitying nature. Second, perhaps the word was “solid.” This is consistent with the change of state in the next two lines ("thaw", "resolution" and "dew"). It is very likely that Shakespeare made this word intentionally ambiguous in order to fit two or even three meanings. These two lines also constitute the first use of imagery in this soliloquy. This rather elaborate way of wishing for one's own end is more measured than a passionate or violent death wish. The change in state, from solid to liquid, is more natural and shows Hamlet's unpreparedness to harm himself. The statement is also one of passivity: Hamlet wishes he would “do it” and has no plans. This says a lot about Hamlet's current state: he is simply morose and not suicidal. The next four lines are another illustration of his depressed but rational inner workings. He would consider suicide if it were not a cardinal sin and if it did not break the law of the land (suicide was illegal at that time). The fact that he is not fervent enough in his conviction to break the law to follow through on his ideas speaks to his perception of his plight. The fact that this would contradict God's rule could be an excuse for his inaction rather than a serious obstacle. His despair pushes him to address God, which also adds a dramatic effect to the soliloquy. In his depression, he is weary of all things: for Hamlet, the world seems devoid of hope (“How weary, how insipid, how flat and unprofitable…this world!”). Shakespeare then uses a second imagery. He likens the state of the country to “a garden without weeds…things of a gross and gross nature simply possess it.” A once beautiful garden has been allowed to deteriorate: this suggests that Hamlet's situation is due to the passage of time rather than any human factor. Shakespeare shows through this careful use of imagery that Hamlet does not yet suspect anyone of his predicament. There may also be a sense of self-deprecation here: Hamlet blames himself for not taking a more active role in the affairs of the kingdom and preventing his garden from being completely controlled by these gross and crude things. This use ofthe imagery can also be linked to Hamlet's state of mind. Whereas before his mind was clear and his purpose in life evident, now his state of mind has degenerated. This may hint at a loss of sanity. Hamlet then turns to his father's death, a natural consequence of pondering the root of his country's (and his mind's) problems. The declarations “It should come to this!” » and '-no, pastelly, not two- create a strong rhythm and are both powerfully theatrical. With this, Shakespeare uses a third image by comparing Hamlet's father, the dead king, to Hamlet's uncle, the outgoing monarch. If Claudius is a satyr, Hamlet's father is Hyperion. Hyperion was the Greek god of the sun: one of the least known Greek gods, he plays almost no role in the mythology accompanying this period. However, the fact that he is the sun god means that he sees everything and holds power over life and death. . A satyr, half man, half beast, couldn't be more different in terms of knowledge or power, so this makes for a stark contrast. This makes Hamlet's opinion of his uncle and his deceased father clear for the first time. This also has the effect of showing that Hamlet is highly educated and knowledgeable in Greek mythology. Hamlet proceeds to complement his father with a grandiose declaration, perhaps induced by the previous comparison with a powerful Greek god: "he could... too roughly." These lines are too grandiose both for theatrical effect and to show the audience what powerful love existed between Hamlet's father and mother and, therefore, how incredible it was that his mother was able to remarry so quickly. Hamlet continues to say that his father's love for his mother was matched by that of his mother, who seemed to feed on her father's love and, instead of being satisfied, hungered more for him. This almost mutual imagery between father and mother makes the love between the two very clear and in doing so, makes the previous month the most incredible. This thought is so odious to Hamlet that he wants to “think about it.” The disjointed nature of this sentence illustrates the fragmented nature of Hamlet's mind. There is now a change in tone, where Hamlet stops lamenting his father's death and begins to get angry at his mother's fickleness. “Frailty, thy name is woman,” Hamlet begins. In this, he compares his mother to all women: this misogynistic statement may be a crude statement provoked by Hamlet's fragile state of mind or a statement betraying Hamlet's true feelings. Hamlet shows how quick the queen's decision to remarry was by using an example that the entire audience could relate to: the shoes she wore to her husband's funeral weren't even worn out before her remarriage. A rich imagery follows. First, the queen is compared to Niobe, a Greek mortal who cried for her children until her grief turned her to stone. Hamlet then declares, with a certain ironic comedy, that "a beast that wants a discourse on reason would have cried longer." These two images make for a delightful juxtaposition for the audience. Hamlet's References to Greek Mythology Next, Hamlet reveals more about his character and his opinion of his uncle. By drawing on the differences between himself and Hercules, Shakespeare shows Hamlet as an imperfect hero. Such self-deprecation adds to the audience's impression of Hamlet's personality. Hamlet's repetition of how quickly his mother remarried emphasizes this point. He then uses a second hyperbole to describe his mother's actions, this time stating that the salt, caused by crying, had not left her eyes until she remarried. Shakespeare.