Shakespeare in his play hamlet used seven soliloquies. Act 1, Scene 2 marks Hamlet’s first soliloquy. But before we dive into analyzing Hamlet’s first Soliloquy, let us first understand the meaning and purpose of using Soliloquies in drama.
What is Soliloquy
Soliloquy is a literary device used by dramatists to convey the secret thoughts or intentions of the character. The character reveals himself to the audience and his monologue is meant to be heard only by the audience and not by any character in the play.
Soliloquy as a literary device is very effective because it let’s audience predict the actions of the character, understand his positive or negative emotions, plans, etc.
Hamlet’s First Soliloquy Text
“The First Folio,” 1623.
Hamlet’s First Soliloquy Analysis
In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he reveals the grief that has been tormenting his mind. He wishes to die, but unable to do so as it is sin to commit suicide. He feels disillusioned with the world. He compares his life with a garden that has been left wild.
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Line – 133
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Hamlet then starts talking about his father who died less than two months ago. He compares his father with Hyperion (A God of Wisdom) and his uncle with Satyr (half-human, half-animal monster). He also revealed how much his father used to love his mother.
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother,
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Hamlet is unable to tolerate the fact that his mother remarried just after few days of the death of his father. He is losing faith in women. He compares his mother with Niobe and claimed that even a beast would have mourn for someone loved longer than his mother.
Like Niobe, all tears; — why she, even she, —
O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason,
Would have mourn’d longer,
Hamlet is also disgusted with the fact that his mother married his own brother-in-law and got in bed with him before her tears for King Hamlet dried. But hamlet decided not to protest openly.
married with mine uncle,
My father’s brother; but no more like my father
Conclusion
The first soliloquy in hamlet gives us an insight into Hamlet’s state of mind. He feels hopeless both by the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother. We also get to know, that he holds his father in high esteem. His reference to Hyperion, Niobe, and Hercules shows him to be well-versed in classical literature. His anger toward his mother and uncle is evident in the soliloquy. As an audience, we start to sympathize with hamlet and become curious about his next action.