Hamlet Soliloquy
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In his self-comparison to Fortinbras army in Act IV Scene IV, Hamlet finds motivation to slay Claudius, but fails to commit to his passion as he ends his soliloquy, “My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!” Hamlet deceives himself by vowing merely his thoughts to be bloody, but not demanding anything of his actions. This particular soliloquy connects to the novel as a whole: Hamlet clearly depicts his tragic flaw of hesitation, or moreover his inability to act.
Hamlet begins his speech frustrated with a “why me” attitude. Hamlets philosophical approach may have stirred psychologically as a motive for him to act. He deems man no greater than any other creature on earth; people are simply a part of the life cycle that keeps the earth biologically in order. His frustration mounts as he realizes for that if man serves, in fact, no real importance other than scientifically, his actions toward Claudius-deciding to kill him or not-will scarcely affect the world. Why then does Hamlet not kill his fathers murderer? His tragic flaw prevents him.
Hamlet “hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward.” He compares himself to Fortinbras army. Both he and the army have the passion and ability to follow through with their fights, yet Hamlet still hesitates. He continues his comparison acknowledging the fact that this army is risking thousands of lives for a minuscule
piece of land, but Hamlet, who has much more significant reason to act, cannot follow through with his revenge. Hamlets comparisons demonstrate apparent shame in his inability to act; furthermore his thoughts provoke more substantial reasoning for him to kill Claudius. He convinces himself that he no longer has a choice. For if these men risk their lives for no more than a “trick of fame,” only a coward would not kill thee who slain his father and stained his mother.
Once again, the philosopher Hamlet appears in lines 54-57, but unlike his earlier thoughts, his beliefs are completely contradictory. He justifies that rushing into action is unnecessary unless ones honor is at stake, and where at the point of honor, one should be striving to find a fight to defend his own reputation. Surely Hamlet must believe that Claudius has attacked his honor, but his tragic flaw of hesitation prohibits him from acting on what he determined are his philosophical beliefs.
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