Meredith Martin

Ms. Free

AP Lit/4th pd.

3 February 2017

Choices with Emotions

In Hamlets soliloquy in Act III, as well as in the rest of the play, he is at war with himself

over how he should face his situation. Hamlets collected and rational diction contrasts the

senseless and deranged ideas and outcomes that he is debating between to help him work through

his struggles. Hamlets diction and perspective outcomes along with the syntax of his soliloquy,

express his indecisiveness as to how he should work to resolve his conflicts; both internally and

externally. It also helps to reveal how personal feelings and emotions, such as anger and grief,

can inhibit ones ability to make a conscious decision.

In this soliloquy, Hamlet is debating whether it is better to suffer through life or to die

and have all of his troubles fade away. He says, whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer or to

take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them? In this situation, Hamlet is

rationally thinking through all of his options. Hamlet says that death is a consummation

devoutly to be wishd. Hamlet also states that what dreams may come when we have shuffled

off this mortal coil, must give us pause. Hamlet is genuinely trying to choose the best solution

to his conflicts and improve his situation. This thought process Hamlet is going through is very

rational and reasonable. A calm and composed person would weigh out the positives and

negatives in all cases and choose the best rational choice and Hamlet is doing just that. In doing

so, Hamlets true intelligence is shining through and he is seen as a normal, intelligent, collected
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individual. However, the actual situations that Hamlet is debating between, are in complete

contrast. By saying death is something to dream about and wish for, Hamlets suicidal and

depressed emotions are expressed once more. The idea of suicide itself, is irrational and illogical.

Hamlets inability to clearly see another solution to improve his chaotic and intricate position,

further complicate his already complex dilemma. These emotions and suicidal thoughts that

Hamlet is feeling along with the contrasting practical and sane ways that Hamlet is trying to

maneuver through. reveal further how incapable Hamlet actually is at handling his situation

correctly. In addition to these contrasting emotions and processes Hamlet is using to improve his

circumstances, Shakespeare uses syntax, such as rhetorical questions, to help reveal Hamlets

inability to improve his circumstances on his own.

Shakespeare uses rhetorical questions in Hamlets soliloquy to reiterate how much

Hamlet does not know what to do. In this soliloquy, Hamlet says the undiscover'd country from

whose bourn no traveller returns puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we have

than fly to other that we know not of? This question does not have an answer. No one knows

what happens when we die, just like Hamlet has no idea what will happen with his situation. No

matter how Hamlet attempts to solve his problems, it appears someone will always gets hurt.

Throughout the entire soliloquy, Shakespeare uses these rhetorical questions to continuously

reiterate how confused Hamlet is and how confused he shall remain to be. There is no right

answer as to how Hamlet should solve his problem and his mental state does not make his

decision any easier. This soliloquy helps Shakespeare even further by proving once more how

our own emotions can affect our decisions.

Through Hamlet, Shakespeare is trying to express how personal feelings can inhibit a

persons ability to make the right decisions. In Hamlets case, many emotions are clouding his
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mind. His father was abruptly murdered. He is angry with his mother for marrying so quickly

after his fathers death. Claudius killed his father, stole his fathers crown and his fathers wife so

naturally Hamlet is furious with him. His friends are deceiving him and the one girl he truly

loves is spying on him for the King and her father. Among the many different emotions Hamlet is

feeling, the love he had for his father and the hate he has for his uncle are greatly preventing him

from making the right decision for himself. The need for revenge and the passion he has are

driving him mad. This growing madness continuously decreases Hamlets chance of being

happy. As time goes by, Hamlet is more overcome with guilt and more determined than ever to

get revenge against Claudius no matter what comes of him or anyone else. As Hamlet proves

once more in his soliloquy, his life no longer matters to him. He would rather die than live with

the grief he has from losing someone he loves and the intense hatred he has for his uncle as well

as the growing hatred he has for his mother. These strong and passionate emotions are preventing

Hamlet from seeing everything clearly and making the right decision for himself. Hamlet is now

more than ever focused on trying to overturn other wrongdoings and reveal the truth than he is

about making the right decision for himself, once more proving Shakespeares point.

Because of Hamlets intense and passionate emotions towards the people in his life, he is

casting aside his own well being and instead turning all of his attention towards seeking revenge

and exposing the truth around his fathers murder. As Hamlet further expresses in his soliloquy in

Act III, he is on the verge of madness considering he would rather die than continue to live his

life this unhappily. Using Hamlet and his situation, as well as his internal conflict with himself,

Shakespeare expresses how such strong emotions can be detrimental. These emotions Hamlet is

feeling, such as anger and grief, are inhibiting him from making the right decision without
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putting himself on the line. In the end, Hamlet will have to choose between his own well being

and his need for revenge and to reveal the truth.