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

Drama Queen or Brilliant Actor? that could be the question.

    In act three, scene one (III. i) where Hamlet’s soliloquy of “to be or not to be” occurs, one can say that Hamlet is aware that he is being spied on and also that he is not aware. One thing to mention before I choose whether or not I think Hamlet is aware of the spying King is that I think Hamlet is a very complicated and interesting character. He may very well be one of my favourite shakespeare characters (him and Sir Toby Belch, bless his soul). He is perceptive, funny, smart and witty. He has everything going out for him! But we all know that he under a lot of pressure. With his father dead and his murderous uncle in power, it is certainly up to Hamlet to fix this whole mess up! There are certainly many times where he may seem crazy, but that’s all because he has decided to play an act in order to fool the people around him. This shows how Hamlet doesn’t always express how he is really feeling in order to keep his true motives hidden. So we as readers know that Hamlet is very deceiving and has the ability to piece things together in order to come up with his brilliant plans! So I have come to the conclusion that Hamlet is quite aware of Claudius and Polonius’ presence and that he is performing for an “audience”.
    First of all, I do believe Hamlet is aware of his uncle and Polonius because in the past Hamlet was able to figure out hidden information very quickly. For example when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern go to chat/spy on Hamlet, they are surprised when Hamlet all of a sudden knows they were sent by the king. “ I know the good king and queen have sent for you. To what end, my lord?” (II.ii.281-282). If Hamlet has the ability to figure out this type of stuff quickly what’s saying he couldn’t figure out that Claudius is watching him. I also found it quite evident that Hamlet was aware of the audience when he speaks with Ophelia. He speaks to her with fury and anger, which confuses the poor girl, but it’s probably because he is aware of the king and polonius’ presence. He carries out this conversation with her, but then suddenly asks, “go thy ways to a nunnery. Where’s your father?” (III.i.130-131) Polonius really didn’t have anything to do with the conversation, yet he came to Hamlet’s mind, probably because he wanted to poke fun at the fact he knows where he really is.
    During Hamlet’s soliloquy he also talks about the ignorant or idiotic people who get on his nerve. “ for who bear the whips and scorns of time, th’oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, the pangs of dispriz’d love,the law’s delay the insolence of office and the spurns that patient merit of th’unworthy takes, when he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin?” (III.i.70-76). He could be speaking specifically towards Claudius, making general statements about his problems and maybe suggesting to Claudius to off himself. Hamlet could be saying;  “watch yourself, you have a lot of problems, maybe you should just end it all before I come to get you”.
    Another way I see this whole speech is, perhaps Hamlet wasn’t aware of the king until he saw Ophelia. Perhaps he only realized he was being watched when he realized the king wasn’t where he was supposed to be. So he had to quickly collect his thoughts and play an act for Ophelia and the king.
    Over all I still believe Hamlet was aware of the two spies, and he was just performing an elaborate scene.

Mitch Mason: I completely agree with your points regarding Hamlet’s soliloquy and also how he is referring to the way in which Hamlet Sr. was killed to get the thought of the death in Claudius’ mind. I never thought about that whole “to sleep” part like that until now. Also I had similar thoughts about the part where hamlet talks about suicide. Perhaps Hamlet is putting bad thoughts into the kings head in an attempt to make Claudius feel even more guilty. Hamlet is indeed a trickster and I do also believe that he could have easily figured out that Claudius was watching him when he first saw Ophelia instead of the king.
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