Logic and Emotion in Hamlets Soliloquy - Essay Example

Logic and Emotion in Hamlet’s Soliloquy “To be or not to be” is arguably one of the most recognizable phrases in the English language. It begins asoliloquy that helps to define Hamlet as a character as well as serving as a catalyst for future plot twists. The speech gives us, as the audience, a glimpse into the inner workings of the prince’s mind as logic and emotion collide in what is basically a question and answer session with himself. This soliloquy serves a dual purpose in that it explores how logic and emotion work discordantly in Hamlet’s mind along with how the speech itself works in the overall scheme of the play. The simplistic language used to convey Hamlet’s thoughts leads us to a greater understanding of the fear that renders the prince inactive, interfering with his vowed revenge upon his father’s murderer. Hamlet enters into this speech, unaware that he is being observed both by Claudius and Polonius. Even though up until this point he has pretended madness in the hopes that it will help him to uncover the true identity of the murderer, he speaks intelligently. The way in which he begins the speech “to be or not to be”, to live or to die, demonstrates a clear, logical thought process. The question is almost cold in the direct simplicity of the statement. Where he has been speaking in nonsense previously, here the king hears him exhibit a sound mind as Hamlet continues his circular thought process, alternately considering the question of suicide and discarding it. In this scene, Hamlet’s purpose is two-fold. He considers both his morality and mortality as well as his love for Ophelia. His actions as he for-goes the option to end his life and then in turn refuses Ophelia’s overtures of affection sets the course for the remainder of his life. The logic that Hamlet exhibits in the first few lines of the monologue is quickly overruled by his emotions as he considers not death, but what follows it. His fear becomes present as he considers “what dreams may come” following the actual act of suicide (Shakespeare). As he contemplates the horrors of life that would drive a man to suicide, he also gives regard to what awaits beyond the grave in an attempt to regain the logic that permeates the beginning of the piece. His thoughts weave a circular pattern as he works his way back to where he started, ending without having voiced a resolution. All of his musings over the calamity of continued existence, the fear of what awaits after death frustrate him to the point that he admits his own cowardice. At the recognition of his cowardice in the face of his inevitable demise, Hamlet also comes to the realization that this is what directly affects his own ability to act or to react to the treachery surrounding him. The continued application of cold, concise logic, followed by a heightened emotional response that is brought to a swift halt by the return of his logical thought process hampers the exacting of revenge upon Claudius. Hamlet demonstrates this when he is given the opportunity to kill Claudius and rebukes it, refusing to kill the other man while he is praying for fear that he will by accident condemn Claudius’ soul to a better afterlife than his father received, having been murdered before he could ask for forgiveness. The speech presents a very dark, violent view of life which Hamlet speaks of with great respect and thoughtful consideration. His mental dance with himself climaxes as rationale resurfaces in the question “When he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin?” (Shakespeare). With this question, he enters into the structure of his beliefs concerning life after death. This train of thought ultimately leads him to a path of self discovery where he realizes that he is his own obstacle. The soft plea for Ophelia’s prayers for his soul leaves us with the impression that there is more underlying emotion in his view of her than he would lead Ophelia to believe. The duality of the speech speaks to the duality of Hamlet’s nature. This duality, Hamlet’s indecisiveness, affects everything that follows in the plot of the play. In his mind, there must be a balance to everything, be it life and death or love and hate (O’Malley, 2006). Even though he has rejected Ophelia’s love, he still cares for her. In kind, he loves his mother, but detests her actions. His anger at his mother’s hasty marriage to Claudius colors his opinion of other women, causing his belief that women are objects. The entire monologue takes place while Hamlet is in the same room as Ophelia and yet he does not acknowledge her until the end when he asks for her prayers. Yet these are his private thoughts which he readily reveals in front of her, giving more evidence to the belief that he still harbors some romantic feelings for Ophelia. The language of the play, while dated, still speaks to a modern generation. It covers topics and themes that are still relevant even in today’s age. This includes the lust for vengeance and the dual mentality exhibited in Hamlet. Even though the specific wording of the play is uniquely Shakespeare’s and reflective of the language of the time, the story itself transcends time. It breaks through the language barrier because it involves time-worn sentiments, thoughts that everyone has had at one time or another. Here we see Hamlet in his darkest hour as he contemplates ending his life. This speech speaks to a universal audience as everyone has at some point been in that place, pondering their own mortality. Understanding a need for vengeance when a family member is wronged is also a theme that continues to be applicable in today’s media. Many humans can relate to the instinct to protect and defend their family, including the need for revenge when someone you love is harmed. In this regard, the character and language of Hamlet is easily accessible to audiences both past and present. Both the emotional and logical content of this speech as well as the exact placement of the piece just prior to a major turning point in the story makes this soliloquy a very important part of the play as a whole. It not only helps the audience to better comprehend the motives behind Hamlet’s later actions, but it also grants a deeper understanding of the prince’s character. It pulls you into one of the darkest corners of a person’s mind as he fights his way back from emotion with logic. The themes present in the play are universal in their understanding and commentary on the human condition. In a way, this speech makes Hamlet a character that embodies the essence of every man and all things Shakespearean. Works Cited OMalley, Joey. An Analysis of Hamlet. 7 December 2006. 19 November 2008 . Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. New York: Batnam Classic, 2005. Read More