Widely recognized and highly appreciated as a playwright, poet and actor, Shakespeare wrote a number of never-ending masterpieces, which "raised" affection, passion and controversy among the readers and audiences. He was born in the family of the well-known alderman John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, on 23rd of April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, and died on his 52 birthday in 1616 in his residency in Stratford (Key, 1992).Shakespeare is considered to be the founder of modern English literature by being one of the first who incorporated modern prose into this writings (Mabillard, 2000). By simply putting together endless and perfect word and image combinations, he was able to "give life" ...view middle of the document...
Hamlet as a"center" of this play is found to be admirable for many observers throughout the centuries. The mystery and the verbal intelligence in his character put the element of drama through the whole play. Even the most careful readers when put together all the puzzles of the play, they are still confused by some of his statements and actions that remain blurred and enigmatic. Hamlet's speeches are extremely intense and dense with interpretations on different levels - each word spoken is not wasted, but precisely aimed.Hamlet is highly moral and philosophic, and he truly can feel the depths of passion and grief. Through this moral perfection he envisions destiny as supreme, above all the rules and laws set by humans.Hamlet is different (unique) from the cliché heroes, who are gifted with physical strength and passion of will. Instead, he is thoughtful and emotional, which makes him unable to take conscious actions. In addition controversy plays an important role in the character of Hamlet, making it more enigmatic than ever: his language changes instantaneously depending on the situation and the person, dictating his mood and actions.In all of his plays, Shakespeare developed a strong perception of the speaker's personality. In Hamlet-Prince of Denmark, through the soliloquies, the observers get a picture of the mental composition of the characters. Most of them show the mental evolution through which Hamlet passes as well as the different moods of the play.Hamlet's second soliloquy, which is considered to be one of the most interesting ones, introduces the main conflict of the play - Hamlet's inside battle - together with Hamlet's plan for revenge. It is positioned after Polonius reveals the reason for Hamlet's madness to King Claudius and Hamlet's meeting with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Thorough and critical analysis of the second soliloquy will be presented in the following paragraphs.One of the main issues in this soliloquy is Hamlet's delay for taking revenge. Initially, Hamlet heavily criticizes himself for not taking any action yet:" Now I am alone. O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!" (Act II, Scene 2, line 537). However, his moralistic character holds him from actually performing it straight away; he is still not sure if the ghost is really his father or is the devil, who is trying to play with him and "blacken" his soul. In addition, this delay can be seen as the primary stage of the whole revenge plan, where Hamlet gathers strengths to overturn the "moralistic barrier" with the will for revenge.Further, comparison of Hamlet and Hecuba is presented. Indeed Hamlet compares his own inaction with the one of the actor. He finds himself weak and cowardly when he sees how Hecuba can actually fake the passion and strength for revenge without having any real reason or impetus:"But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,Could force his soul so to his own conceitThat from her working all his visage wann'd,Tears in his ey...
