People often question right and wrong, trying to give exact definitions to the words, yet how can right and wrong be defined in such an open context. A person must have their own definition to each of these words and their own choices will reflect on those definitions. There will always be that vacillating that happens between what is happening in ones mind and what they want to physically do. A decision will be made, but how does one justify if their action was right or wrong? Hamlet faces this fight throughout the entire play, contemplating what is wrong and what is right. His hesitance in killing King Claudius shows that Hamlet is contemplating murder, which any human being would do when faced with the duty of killing someone. Although many readers and even the characters see Hamlet as mad, he is a very intricate and intelligent character in which his actions are done for specific reasons. Hamlet’s famous soliloquy, To be or not to be, contributes to the understanding of why Hamlet is so hesitant in killing the King and to the overall theme of uncertainty and experiencing change as Hamlet moves through the different stages of performative utterance.
The soliloquy presented by Hamlet shows how Hamlet has this fight between what his mind is telling him to do and what he really wants to do. Hamlet recites the famous soliloquy To Be Or Not To Be in Act 3 Scene 1. In reciting this message, Hamlet realizes that he is procrastinating in killing the King because he is afraid of the guilt that will come along with killing him. At one point, Hamlet mentions death only because it seems like it would be an easier outlet rather than making a decision to kill the king or not. Hamlet sees himself as a coward because he can’t follow through with his father’s request. There is not only this fight between right and wrong that Hamlet faces, but also contemplating whether he will stay loyal to his deceased father or do what is best for himself. For the audience, this soliloquy defines Hamlet as a confused and complicated character, rather than an insane and mentally unstable character, which was the impression that was given off by his previous actions. This is a turning point for Hamlet because he starts to focus on his negative attributes and his lack of bravery to get the job done, which only complicates his decisions even more.
Hamlet’s soliloquy include many literary techniques such as irony, language and juxtaposition. The irony is seen as Hamlet is trying to escape death and murder, yet it surrounds him in every direction. Shakespeare uses a variety of language that are different in origin and meaning the use of “quietus” and “bodkin”. Juxtaposition is displayed throughout the entire soliloquy; the opposites between doing what is in his mind and what he believes right or fulfilling his father’s request. The soliloquy helps to develop the central theme of uncertainty and living through change. Hamlet suffers through uncertainty throughout the entire play, while trying to acclimate to this new life with a disloyal mother and no father. Every character experiences change and must become familiar with how the new life will be, like the new king gaining power and Gertrude moving on so quickly after her husbands death. The overall tone of the play is dark, uncertain, and tortured which is seen in the soliloquy because Hamlet is tortured with picking what action he will take. Throughout this soliloquy, Hamlet is in the locutionary stage, the thought process. He has already went through the illocutionary phase by promising his father he will kill the king, but throughout this soliloquy he never reaches the per locutionary stage.
The battle that Hamlet fights within himself makes him a weak character at times, but when he finally enters the pre locutionary stage at the end of the play, his true bravery and confidence is shown. Hamlet endures this journey of contemplation and hesitancy that contributes to a tone of torture and an overall theme of uncertainty. Through this quote in the play, the audience takes on a new understanding of Hamlet and the struggles that he is taking on, while Hamlet also has a new understanding of his cowardice and weakness. To be or not to be is a very significant part of the play in that we see this vacillation happening inside of Hamlet; he is not an insane person, but rather a very calculated and confused character that has a lot going on inside his mind.
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