Length: 657 words (2.4 pages)
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Hamlet Essay
     After reading Hamlet, I have realized that some of Shakespeare?s original play
must be abridged for our production. After careful analysis I have decided that of the four
soliloquies in the play we should only include two of them. I have discovered that two of
these soliloquies are not that important in understanding the meaning of the play.
     In order to see which two we should include or omit we have to summarize all
four soliloquies. The first one, which begins ?O that this too, too sullied flesh...?, is an
emotionally violent speech. Hamlet wishes he were dead, complains that suicide is a sin,
and describes the world as useless and disgusting. He then talks about his father,
comparing him to Claudius. He calls Claudius a half-man half-beast creature. The second
soliloquy, which begins ?O what a rogue and pleasant slave am I...?, Hamlet compares
himself to a mythical character named Hecuba and wonders what the latter would do in
his situation. He then accuses himself of being a coward who can?t even avenge his
father?s dead. He also calls himself an idiot before devising a plan to remedy the
situation. ?To be or not to be...? (third soliloquy) is basically a debate on life and
whether it is worth living. Hamlet here questions death and says that all men fear death.
Hamlet ends here by saying conscience makes cowards of us all for when we think of the
consequences of an action we do not take it. And finally the fourth soliloquy which
begins ?How all occasions to inform against me...? is an expression of Hamlet?s shame
and amazement that others can act when he himself can?t. Hamlet here realizes that he
can?t escape from his destiny and has a sense of feeling of what is about to happen to
him.
     After paraphrasing all four soliloquies a decision has to be made as to what to
include. The two which should be included are the first and third ones. The first one
should be included because it allows the audience to hear Hamlet?s innermost thoughts.
This speech sets precedence for the rest of the play. In this speech Hamlet expresses his
grievances toward the people he is supposed to love. It is an outpouring of a man in deep
distress. It not only puts Hamlet in confusion but the audience which has to decide if
Hamlet is crazy or not as the play develops. The third soliloquy should also be included
because it is the most famous speech in all of the English language. This is an important
clue to Hamlet?s character and the reasons for his delay. Hamlet is a man of thought, not
of action he sees the many sides of an issue and ends up doing nothing. Hamlet?s
perspective here causes his death.
     The other two soliloquies which are important but can?t be fitted in our
production are the second and fourth soliloquies. The second soliloquy is just a short
speech on Hamlet?s plan. Here he says he will have the players perform a play to see
Claudius reactions. The audience will just figure out this by just seeing the little skit
performed in the play. The final soliloquy should be omitted also because we see the
same reasoning as in the third soliloquy. Hamlet here just realizes his fate and destiny.
There is no need to add this in our production since Hamlet already is considered a man
of no action. So him being at peace with himself will have nothing to do with the play
after he is being killed by Laertes.
     In conclusion, as you can see Mr. Nussbaum due to our limited budget and time
limitations we can only add two of Hamlet?s four soliloquies. The first and third should
be added since they add precedence to the play while the second and fourth just are
superfluous and can be omitted without changing meaning of the play.