Hamlet's First Soliloquy The tone of Hamlet's first soliloquy begins as sad and depressed as Hamlet
contemplates suicide. The tone changes to angry and bitter while Hamlet ponders the relationship be
tween his mother and his uncle. Through Shakespeare's use of diction and syntax he shows Hamlet's d
isapproval of this relationship. In the first section of this soliloquy Hamlet is considering suicid
e but does not follow through with his thoughts because of religious reasons. This is apparent thro
ugh Hamlet's words, "or that the everlasting had not fixed his cannon 'gainst self-slaughtered!" Sh
akespeare's use of words such as flat, stale, and weary contributes to a tone of sorrow and sadness.
The long, drawn out sentences also create a tone of distress. As an actor performing this soliloq
uy, I would act out this first section until "...seem to me all the uses of this world!" as a despon
dent tone. In the next section of the soliloquy Hamlet is angry with his mother because she married
Hamlet's uncle so soon after his father's death. This section should be performed as incensed and b
itter. It should demonstrate to the audience Hamlet's disapproval of the relationship between his m
other and uncle, as it is throughout this soliloquy. As Hamlet says, "So excellent a king that was t
o this Hyperon to a satyr." he compares his uncle to his father. He also reminisces about the relat
ionship between his parents when he says, "so loving to my mother..." Although Hamlet remains angry
with his mother, he becomes sad as he remembers his father's gentle and loving ways. This should be
performed as thoughtful and reminiscent. The remaining of the soliloquy up until the last sentence,
Hamlet becomes bitter as he says the marriage between his mother and uncle is founded on lust and s
ex. With Hamlet's words, "she would hang on him..." informs the audience of his mother's dependence
upon men. Hamlet then compares his mother to a beast. This metaphor enhances the point of how qui
ckly she was able to recover from her husband's death. The phrase, "incestuous sheets" suggests Ham
let's knowledge of what had gone on between the two even before his father's death. This section wo
uld be best performed as extremely acrimonious and angry. The purpose of this soliloquy is to notify
the audience of Hamlet's awareness of both his mother and uncle's guilt. While he may not accuse h
is mother of murder, he does indict her of having an affair with his uncle before his father's death
. He claims their relationship his based solely on lust and sex. Hamlet concludes his soliloquy wi
th his frustration in saying he cannot say anything nor do anything about his knowledge and disappro
val of his uncle's actions and relationship with his mother. This is a tone of not only frustration
but perhaps even disappointed because he can not act on his feelings of anger.
hamlet first solilo
quy tone hamlet first soliloquy begins depressed hamlet contemplates suicide tone changes angry bitt
er while ponders relationship between mother uncle through shakespeare diction syntax shows disappro
val this relationship first section this soliloquy considering suicide does follow through with thou
ghts because religious reasons this apparent through words that everlasting fixed cannon gainst self
slaughtered shakespeare words such flat stale weary contributes tone sorrow sadness long drawn sent
ences also create distress actor performing would section until seem uses world despondent next sect
ion angry with mother because married uncle soon after father death should performed incensed bitter
should demonstrate audience disapproval relationship between mother uncle throughout says excellent
king that hyperon satyr compares father also reminisces about between parents when says loving alth
ough remains angry with becomes remembers father gentle loving ways should performed thoughtful remi
niscent remaining until last sentence becomes bitter says marriage founded lust words would hang inf
orms audience dependence upon then compares beast metaphor enhances point quickly able recover from
husband death phrase incestuous sheets suggests knowledge what gone even before death would best per
formed extremely acrimonious purpose notify audience awareness both guilt while accuse murder does i
ndict having affair before claims their based solely lust concludes frustration saying cannot anythi
ng anything about knowledge disapproval actions only frustration perhaps even disappointed because f
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