Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-1-soliloquy

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# Soliloquy

English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet, topic 5.2.1

## Role of Soliloquies in *Hamlet* & Inspiration of Essays

Much of *Hamlet*’s fame and popularity rests on the play’s soliloquies. The opening line of Hamlet’s fourth soliloquy, **“To be, or not to be”**, is probably the single most quoted line in all of Shakespeare.

### Access to Hamlet's mind

![Access to Hamlet's mind](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/7c84b266-c396-4e00-b727-e33dcc58d2a9/brain-engraving.jpg)

- Shakespeare’s use of soliloquy in *Hamlet* allows audiences and readers access to Hamlet’s mind. 
- Not only do we hear Hamlet voice his doubts and fears but we see his actual thought processes – ideas forming and developing, questions posed and answered. 
- The power of these soliloquies has encouraged people to interpret the play as a psychological study of its hero. We feel we know Hamlet more than any other of Shakespeare’s characters.

### Inspired by the essay

![Inspired by the essay](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-08/6068bd24-2922-4950-95cc-4c27521a4aac/550px-Michel_de_Montaigne_1.jpg)

- Many scholars argue that Shakespeare’s use of soliloquy was inspired by a new art form – the essay – which became fashionable in England during the late 1590s. 
- After *Montaigne’s Essays* (1580) began to be translated from French into English, English writers such as William Cornwallis began to publish their own attempts.

### Features of the essay form

![Features of the essay form](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/421dcd4b-ce0f-4061-933e-3be529cd5c2c/skull-476740_1920.jpg)

- The essay form was something new and fresh. Writers would speak of their personal experiences as they grappled with issues such as *‘Of Life and the Fashions of Life’* (Cornwallis) or *‘Of Sadness or Sorrow’* (Montaigne). 
- The essay form allowed writers to explore issues in a philosophical, questioning and reflective tone, similar to the mood of Hamlet’s soliloquies in which he ponders the mysteries of life and death.

### The power of Hamlet's soliloquies

![The power of Hamlet's soliloquies](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-08/4ff546f2-fa75-442a-8a45-8cbe9a244924/johnny-automatic-Hamlet.png)

- The power of Hamlet’s soliloquies in part lies in the fact that the character who voices them is a scholar with an active, enquiring mind who, in his pursuit of truth, tests out a number of arguments and counter-arguments. 
- We see the thought processes of an agile mind able to shift between ideas and question his own assumptions.

## Hamlet & Claudius' Soliloquies in *Hamlet*

The use of soliloquy is a dramatic necessity in the play because, as James Shapiro argues, **“Hamlet needs to talk; but there is nobody in whom he can confide”**.

### Who does Hamlet confide in?

![Who does Hamlet confide in?](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-07/7d819207-248e-49e4-8934-33f0159ddb77/secret-1142327_1920.jpg)

- Hamlet has a terrible secret which he cannot share. Old friends such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are now agents of the King and Ophelia has been used as bait against him.  
- Hamlet does confide in Horatio, sharing his suspicions of Claudius’ guilt with him, but he does not reveal everything to him.

### Hamlet's first soliloquy

![Hamlet's first soliloquy](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-05/8b2cd2f2-ce9c-4f9d-b0de-b51106176563/7.png)

- Hamlet speaks seven soliloquies in the play. 
- The first reveals his melancholy and death-wish (**“O that this too too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew”**), notes that will be sounded in later soliloquies, most famously in **“To be, or not to be”** which considers the merits of suicide.

### Hamlet's other soliloquies

![Hamlet's other soliloquies](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/c0a5a954-a659-4f4f-84b0-0b9ada645ca1/question-mark-.png)

- In other soliloquies, Hamlet questions his inaction, which Harold Jenkins calls the **“soliloquies of self-reproach”**. 
- In each, he asks whether he is a **“coward”**. Each build to what Jenkins describes as **“a climax of self-accusation”**. 
- But each contains a turning-point where Hamlet decides on a course of action: in A2S2 he devises a plan to use the players as a way of catching **“the conscience of the king”** and in A4S4 he vows that **“from this time forth / My thoughts be bloody”**.

### The end of Hamlet's soliloquies

![The end of Hamlet's soliloquies](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-02/411a9b5e-192e-46c9-b9eb-385394b452bb/-england%20flag-.jpg)

- When Hamlet returns from England, there are no more soliloquies.
- Horatio is by his side but Hamlet is also in a new frame of mind, no longer afflicted by doubts or self-loathing. Instead, Hamlet is now prepared to meet his destiny, telling Horatio that **“the readiness is all”**.

### Claudius' soliloquy

![Claudius' soliloquy](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2020-07/d123a767-6a7f-4f63-a0f2-076d442503fc/church-4019734_1920.jpg)

- Claudius’ sole soliloquy in the confession scene (Act 3, Scene 3) helps to humanise the character. 
- We see his guilt over the murder of his brother. 
- We also see his honesty when admitting that true repentance is impossible as he is not willing to give up the proceeds from his crime.

## Test yourself on Soliloquy

- Which of Hamlet's soliloquies does the famous **“to be, or not to be”** line come from?
- What makes Hamlet's soliloquies so engaging?
- Why can Hamlet NOT share his secret with other characters?
- Which of these are true of Claudius' soliloquy?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8dece131-d168-46de-9b11-ea7deb49963f/section/e7a4cdfa-b216-4fd4-a2f7-c06f0ad3a089/session)

- Previous topic: [5.1.3 Play-Acting Motif](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-3-play-acting-motif.md)
- Next topic: [5.2.2 Comedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-2-comedy.md)

## English Lit: OCR A Level - Hamlet contents

### 1 Introduction
- 1.1 Introduction & Background to Hamlet
  - [1.1.1 Introduction to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-1-introduction-to-hamlet.md)
  - [1.1.2 The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-2-the-literary-tradition-of-the-hamlet-story.md)
  - [1.1.3 Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-3-introduction-to-the-settings-in-hamlet.md)
  - [1.1.4 Introduction to Social Issues Raised](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/1-1-4-introduction-to-social-issues-raised.md)

### 2 Plot Summary
- 2.1 Act 1: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.1.1 Act 1, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-1-act-1-scene-1.md)
  - [2.1.2 Act 1, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-2-act-1-scene-2.md)
  - [2.1.3 Act 1, Scene 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-3-act-1-scene-3.md)
  - [2.1.4 Act 1, Scenes 4-5](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-1-4-act-1-scenes-4-5.md)
- 2.2 Act 2: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.2.1 Act 2, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-2-1-act-2-scene-1.md)
  - [2.2.2 Act 2, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-2-2-act-2-scene-2.md)
- 2.3 Act 3: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.3.1 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-1-act-3-scene-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.3.2 Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-2-act-3-scene-1-key-ideas.md)
  - [2.3.3 Act 3, Scene 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-3-act-3-scene-2.md)
  - [2.3.4 Act 3, Scene 3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-4-act-3-scene-3.md)
  - [2.3.5 Act 3, Scene 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-3-5-act-3-scene-4.md)
- 2.4 Act 4: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.4.1 Act 4, Scene 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-1-act-4-scene-1.md)
  - [2.4.2 Act 4, Scenes 2-3](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-2-act-4-scenes-2-3.md)
  - [2.4.3 Act 4, Scene 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-3-act-4-scene-4.md)
  - [2.4.4 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-4-act-4-scene-5-key-events.md)
  - [2.4.5 Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-5-act-4-scene-5-key-ideas.md)
  - [2.4.6 Act 4, Scene 6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-6-act-4-scene-6.md)
  - [2.4.7 Act 4, Scene 7](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-4-7-act-4-scene-7.md)
- 2.5 Act 5: Key Events & Ideas
  - [2.5.1 Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-1-act-5-scene-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.5.2 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-2-act-5-scene-2-key-events.md)
  - [2.5.3 Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/2-5-3-act-5-scene-2-key-ideas.md)

### 3 Character Profiles
- 3.1 Hamlet
  - [3.1.1 Hamlet's Speech & Mind](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-1-hamlets-speech-and-mind.md)
  - [3.1.2 Hamlet's Heroic Status](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-2-hamlets-heroic-status.md)
  - [3.1.3 Hamlet's State of Mind](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-3-hamlets-state-of-mind.md)
  - [3.1.4 Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-1-4-hamlets-indecisionaction-taking.md)
- 3.2 Claudius
  - [3.2.1 Claudius' Crime](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-2-1-claudius-crime.md)
  - [3.2.2 Changing Impressions of Claudius](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-2-2-changing-impressions-of-claudius.md)
- 3.3 Gertrude
  - [3.3.1 Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-1-mystery-and-hamlets-view-of-gertrude.md)
  - [3.3.2 Gertrude's Character](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-2-gertrudes-character.md)
  - [3.3.3 Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-3-3-gertrudes-relationship-with-hamlet.md)
- 3.4 Ophelia
  - [3.4.1 Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-4-1-ophelia.md)
- 3.5 Polonius
  - [3.5.1 Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-5-1-portrayal-of-polonius-and-treatment-of-ophelia.md)
  - [3.5.2 Polonius' Spying & Death](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-5-2-polonius-spying-and-death.md)
- 3.6 Laertes
  - [3.6.1 Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-6-1-laertes-popularity-and-relationship-with-ophelia.md)
  - [3.6.2 Laertes' Character Traits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/3-6-2-laertes-character-traits.md)

### 4 Key Themes
- 4.1 Regicide in Hamlet
  - [4.1.1 Regicide in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-1-1-regicide-in-hamlet.md)
- 4.2 Madness in Hamlet
  - [4.2.1 Madness in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-2-1-madness-in-hamlet.md)
- 4.3 Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet
  - [4.3.1 Guilt in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-3-1-guilt-in-hamlet.md)
  - [4.3.2 Punishment in Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-3-2-punishment-in-hamlet.md)
- 4.4 Settings in Hamlet
  - [4.4.1 Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/4-4-1-physical-settings-and-historical-setting-of-hamlet.md)

### 5 Writing Techniques
- 5.1 Structure
  - [5.1.1 Structure of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-1-structure-of-hamlet.md)
  - [5.1.2 'Play Within a Play' Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-2-play-within-a-play-structure.md)
  - [5.1.3 Play-Acting Motif](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-1-3-play-acting-motif.md)
- 5.2 Form
  - [5.2.1 Soliloquy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-1-soliloquy.md)
  - [5.2.2 Comedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-2-2-comedy.md)
- 5.3 Imagery
  - [5.3.1 Imagery of Corruption & Decay](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-3-1-imagery-of-corruption-and-decay.md)
  - [5.3.2 Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-3-2-imagery-healing-performance-and-costume.md)
- 5.4 Language
  - [5.4.1 Word Usage & Hendiadys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-4-1-word-usage-and-hendiadys.md)
  - [5.4.2 Questions & Classical Allusions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/5-4-2-questions-and-classical-allusions.md)

### 6 Context
- 6.1 Social & Historical Context
  - [6.1.1 Elizabeth I & Succession](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-1-elizabeth-i-and-succession.md)
  - [6.1.2 Cosmic & Social Hierarchy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-2-cosmic-and-social-hierarchy.md)
  - [6.1.3 Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-3-renaissance-and-emergence-of-humanism.md)
  - [6.1.4 Regicide](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-4-regicide.md)
  - [6.1.5 The Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-1-5-the-reformation.md)
- 6.2 Literary Context
  - [6.2.1 Seneca Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-2-1-seneca-tragedy.md)
  - [6.2.2 The Revenge Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-2-2-the-revenge-tragedy.md)
- 6.3 Performance & Textual History
  - [6.3.1 Performance History of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-3-1-performance-history-of-hamlet.md)
  - [6.3.2 Textual History of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/6-3-2-textual-history-of-hamlet.md)

### 7 Critical Debates
- 7.1 18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet
  - [7.1.1 Introduction to Critical Debates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-1-introduction-to-critical-debates.md)
  - [7.1.2 18th Century Commentary on Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-2-18th-century-commentary-on-hamlet.md)
  - [7.1.3 Romantic Commentary on Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-1-3-romantic-commentary-on-hamlet.md)
- 7.2 20th Century Responses to Hamlet
  - [7.2.1 Freudian Response to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-1-freudian-response-to-hamlet.md)
  - [7.2.2 Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-2-2-other-early-20th-century-responses-to-hamlet.md)
- 7.3 Feminist Readings of Hamlet
  - [7.3.1 Introduction to Feminist Criticism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-1-introduction-to-feminist-criticism.md)
  - [7.3.2 Feminist Readings of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-2-feminist-readings-of-hamlet.md)
  - [7.3.3 Presentation of Ophelia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-3-3-presentation-of-ophelia.md)
- 7.4 Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet
  - [7.4.1 Introduction to Marxist Criticisms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-4-1-introduction-to-marxist-criticisms.md)
  - [7.4.2 Marxist Readings of Hamlet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/ocr/hamlet/7-4-2-marxist-readings-of-hamlet.md)