Emma Thomson
Block 3
12/5/2011
Shakespeare’s Hamlet uses soliloquies to effectively portray characters’ inner emotions
throughout the play. This is especially true for the character of Hamlet, whose inner feelings are
frequently displayed in soliloquies. In three of these soliloquies, Shakespeare includes a focus of
self-reprimand in order to demonstrate how the corruption within a family (such as the murder of
one’s father and the subsequent betrayal of one’s mother) can torment one’s sense of self-worth.
Hamlet’s soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 2 of the play is laden with Hamlet reprimanding
himself in order to demonstrate how the corruption of one’s family can cause its members to lose
self-worth. This soliloquy starts out with the line “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I”
(2.2.577). Hamlet then continues and calls himself a “Muddy-mettled rascal” (2.2.594), a
“coward” (2.2.598), and a “villain” (2.2.599). In reality, Hamlet is no such thing. Hamlet’s uncle
did murder his father and did marry his mother, but none of this is Hamlet’s fault. Hamlet,
however, is deeply affected by this turn of events. Hamlet, who was once loved by the entire
kingdom and was filled with joy, has now become, in his own eyes, worthless. In this soliloquy,
Hamlet is beating himself up for not having a plan to avenge his father. He calls himself
worthless and berates himself for not having the nerve to do anything against Claudius, despite
being urged to do so by a spirit. Finally, Hamlet decides to put on a play that is eerily similar to
King Hamlet’s suspicious death, with the hopes that Claudius will be driven to confession after
viewing it. Even after Hamlet comes up with a plan of action, his tone is still one of self-disgust.
This can only be explained by the storm of emotions that he is feeling due to the corruption that
his family has certainly encountered. Hamlet incorrectly feels like the corruption in the royal
family can be fixed by him. His inability to act on it, however, leaves him unconfident and
doubtful of himself. Shakespeare is showing how his horrible family situation is making Hamlet
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Emma Thomson
Block 3
12/5/2011
feel as if he has to do things that he is not ready to do (like avenge his father’s death). His
inability to complete these tasks makes him feel worthless. Shakespeare is thus trying to
discourage families everywhere from becoming twisted in order to spare its members from
unnecessary anguish.
Once more, Hamlet berates himself in his soliloquy in Act 4, Scene 4 in order to show the
devastating effects that a dysfunctional family has on all members (not just those immediately
involved). Immediately, Hamlet starts this soliloquy with “How all occasions do inform against
me” (4.4.34). He’s basically saying that the entire world has turned against him. Since he has yet
to avenge his father, Hamlet easily calls himself a “beast” (4.4.37). He repeatedly puts himself
down for not doing anything about “a father kill’d, a mother stain’d” (4.4.60). Through this,
Shakespeare is showing how Hamlet’s thoroughly screwed up family life is affecting him.
Hamlet has taken the whole brunt of the issue on his own shoulders; he feels as if it’s his
responsibility to act on the family corruption. Since Hamlet has yet to act, he repeatedly beats
himself up on it. Shakespeare is showing how the children in a family can easily take any issues
their parents are having and blame it on themselves. By doing so, Hamlet is stripping himself of
his self-worth, which is evident by his harsh and unforgiving way of talking about himself.
Once more, Shakespeare forces Hamlet to debase himself in his soliloquy in Act 3, Scene
1 of the play in order to truly show the devastating effects that corruption in a family can have on
one of its member’s self-esteem. In this scene, Hamlet is so wrought with grief and despair that
he asks “who would bear the whips and scorns of time/ Th’ oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s
contumely, / The pangs of despited love, the law’s delay, / the insolence of office, and the
spurns/ that patient merit of th’ unworthy takes” (3.1.71-75). By saying this, Hamlet is truly
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Emma Thomson
Block 3
12/5/2011
showing how low his confidence is and how his value of life has dropped. He is contemplating
taking his own life; it can be inferred that he finally finds his life void of all value. This is the
lowest point for Hamlet; he views his life as so worthless that he is willing to end it. Shakespeare
includes this to show the extremes to which a horribly twisted family can affect its members.
Even though Hamlet is not responsible for his father’s death or his mother’s hasty remarriage, he
feels the need to blame the whole thing on himself, simply because he is unable to avenge his
father’s murder. Under normal circumstances, Hamlet would most likely be able to see that he
truly had nothing to do with his family’s situation; it was thrust upon him. Instead, Hamlet’s
grief has caused him to develop a warped sense of judgment which makes him believe that he is
responsible for the Hamlet family problems. Shakespeare highlights this in order to show that
only negative effects result from corruption and incest within a family.
In all three of these soliloquies, Hamlet is given the opportunity to express his innermost,
private feelings. Shakespeare makes Hamlet berate himself in three of them to show the damage
that his distorted family situation has inflicted upon Hamlet’s own self-esteem. Shakespeare
shows how members of the family can easily feel the needs to fix whatever’s wrong in the family
(represented by Hamlet’s belief that he must seek revenge), even if they aren’t involved in the
original act that lead to the family’s corrupted state (King Hamlet’s murder). Shakespeare instills
this message in order to discourage family members from distorting their own families and thus
inflict emotional trauma on its members.
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