Examine Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy (III.i.56-89). Traditional views of the play would have you believe he thinks he's alone and is being introspective; others, that he knows he's being watched, and is thus directing his soliloquy at Claudius. There's evidence to be found for either side but, ultimately, it's up to the reader to decide. If Hamlet thinks he's alone on stage then soliloquy means one thing; if he knows he’s being watched, it means something else entirely, because now he's performing for an audience.

So, based on what you know so far in the play, and feel that you can solidly support from the text of the soliloquy itself and from lines taken from the greater context of the play:

a) Prove that Hamlet either thinks he's alone, or knows he's being watched.

b) Discuss how the meaning and mood of the soliloquy fits/supports your answer to a) above.

c) In addition, you must make a detailed comment on at least one classmate’s posting, agreeing, disagreeing, or taking the discussion in a different direction. Making references to life, movies, other things you’ve read, etc. are fair game, as long as they’re relevant. NB: Build your comment right into the bottom of your blog posting, rather than using the comment feature in Blogger. (It makes it easier for marking...)

Your blog posting needs to be at least 500 words in length (that’s the equivalent of two pages, typed/double spaced).

Take no prisoners.

Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Does Hamlet know he is being watched


Hamlet is aware or has a feeling that he is being watched by Claudius and Polonius during the famous “ To be or not to be” soliloquy. He questions ophelia as to where he farther is, Hamlet is only cruel to Ophelia when he needs to trick someone into thinking he does not love her. Hamlet knows Claudius is watching because he is cruel to Ophelia when someone is watching but when they are along he flirts with her. Even when he is acting rude he is saying it in the nicest way he can. “ Get thee to a nunnery” (III,i 121). Maybe he is doing this because he has a feeling that Claudius and Polonius are watching. Or he could possibly be doing this because he wants people to think he is crazy , so if he is rude to Ophelia he is showing Claudius and Polonius who are watching that he is crazy and he really doesn’t love Ophelia. He is putting a show on for Claudius. He is already very suspicious with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because Hamlet can already sense that they have been lying to him. He can see right through them. He is also suspicious at the fact that when he was told to meet claudius in the front foyer he was no where to be found but Ophelia was there.
After Hamlet's “ To be or not to be” soliloquy he finds the fair Ophelia in the front foyer. During their conversation Hamlet questions Ophelia as to where he father is. I personally think Hamlet says this to Ophelia because he realizes that Claudius who was the reason why Hamlet was in the foyer has not showed up but instead Ophelia did.
The mood that Hamlet is showing in this scene gives off is very confronting and a feeling of knowing that someone is watching him. In his first few lines he allows his true emotions towards Claudius come out. He slowly opens himself up as if he is now looking his enemy in the eye telling him exactly how he feels.
“Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus that native hue of resolution is sicklied
o'er with the pale cast of thought, and enterprises of great pitch and moment,
with this regard their currents turn awry and lose the name of action”(III,i,83-88)
The meaning of “soliloquy” means to speak directly to the audience. This soliloquy is different then most, it is one that can keep the audience or the reader on their feet or keep them thinking if Hamlet truly does know if he is being watched or if he is just being Hamlet. This is one of the many reasons why this soliloquy is one of the most famous and known soliloquy still to this day.

There for in my opinion Hamlet is assuming that he is being watched by Claudius because of three reasons. One he is asked by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to meet Claudius in the front foyer. Hamlet goes to the front foyer and Claudius is no where to be seen but there is fair Ophelia. Which makes him questions where her fathers where about is because where ever Polonius is Claudius is near by. Another reason is that he only treats Ophelia like crap when Claudius and or Polonius are watching.  
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3 comments:

  1. Unknown11 April 2017 at 20:56

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Unknown11 April 2017 at 20:59

    Please quote where exactly Hamlet is told to meet Claudius in the front foyer.

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  3. Dan Sullivan4 October 2018 at 03:44

    Act 3, Scene 1: Lines 31-34: "Sweet Gertrude leave us...for we have closely sent for Hamlet hither , that he, as 'twere by accident, may here affront Ophelia."

    He was asked to come there. Hamlet knew that he was being watched. His last time on stage was another soliloquy, thus there is no reason for Shakespeare to give him another one when nothing has substantively happened in the play. 'To Be" is a show.

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