Soliloquy in Act II, Scene II

[NaugyShake12]

What is the importance of Hamlet's soliloquy in the end of Act II Scene II? To be more specific, what purpose does it serve in the grand scheme of the play?

[the thurminator]

Do you think Hamlet is acting cowardly in his approach at avenging his father's murder?

[the thurminator]

How does the corruption in Hamlet represent society as a whole?

[NaugyShake12]

I feel Hamlet is not acting as a coward in his approach to avenging his father's murder. He is just doing as he typically does, he is thinking through exactly how and when he is going to kill Claudius. However, before he can do this he figures he should make absolutely sure that the ghost was true in his sayings and is not a spawn of the devil trying to take advantage of his depression and built up emotions. Therefore, Hamlet is not exactly avoiding killing Claudius, he is just putting it off until he is absolutely sure Claudius killed his father.

[the thurminator]

That is a very intellectual question naugyshake, and your teacher should give you an A+ for being such a genius.


Anyway, the reason that this soliloquiy is so important is because this is the first time Hamlet has chosen to acton the problem rather than think about it. In the past he was thinking for a logical solution, and noow he has actually formulated a plan and is putting it into action.

[NaugyShake12]

Before I discuss my question I would just like to take the time to thank my colleague thurminator for his superb response to my previous question. Thanks to his and only his remarks to my question I fully understand Hamlet's soliloquy and the meaning of it. That kid is so smart, he must have at least an 100 average in AP English. If he was in any lower level class than that it would be an absolute shame. He definatly earned mad props for that and is very deserving of an excellent grade (A++) in his english class.

Now to my question, is it possible for Polonius to be considered a foil to Hamlet? For example, Hamlet is intellectual and thinks before he acts, while Polonius is rash and a fool. Id love to hear any opinions on this matter. (I sure hope Thurmanitor responds to this, hes such a intellect and has such thought stimulating responses)

[the thurminator]

Yes, dear friend, it is true. Palonius is a foil of hamlet in the way that they both actand think. Or rather, lack thereof, Hamletis an intellectual and a thinker. He is the kind of person who looks before he leaps. Whereas Palonius is the exact opposite. He is a foolish man who wouldn't even open his eyes before he leaps. Palonius jumps to conclusions and damns the consequences, and Hamlet thinks each action out.:idea:

[SilverSanta]

Dear Thurmator, I do feel that I shall answer your amazing question regarding Hamlet's craven attitude in avenging his father's death. I feel that Hamlet is acting cowardly in terms of avenging his father's death. Instead of taking immediate action in confronting his uncle with the matter, he has decided to analyze the situation far too much. Hamlet's conscience is prohibiting him from killing Claudius. He is acting mad in order to stall his task of killing his uncle.

[SilverSanta]

I feel I must take the preciously sweet time to answer the most profoundly beautiful question from NaugyShake12.
It is, as you all know, the question asking whether or not Polonius (Sorry dear Thurms, but you seem to have spelt Polonius wrong, but no matter) is a foil of Hamlet. After some intensly straining thought on the matter I have come to the mere conclusion that Polonius is the foil of Hamlet in the sense of knowing what is going on. Polonius has no inkling about his son's behaviors, and therefore he sent a spy. In terms of Hamlet, He has no idea that Hamlet is pretending to be insane and that Hamlet insults him. He is also vague in terms of his knowledge of Ophelia. Hamlet, despite his increasing insanity, knows about his father's murder. He knows how he must deal with his backstabbing uncle, and he is clear on his idea of pretending to be insane.

[SilverSanta]

What do you think will occur when Polonius attempts to have Hamlet and Ophelia meet? Do you think it is a good idea from Polonius?

[SilverSanta]

Is Hamlet's plan to kill Claudius a sound one? What problems, if any, do you see with it?

[hitokaji]

I've read the analysis in www.sparknotes.com and the writer said that the most important foil to Hamlet is Laertes. I would like to qoute the reason for you.
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The active, headstrong, and affectionate Laertes contrasts powerfully with the contemplative Hamlet, becoming one of Hamlet’s most important foils in the play. (A foil is a character who by contrast emphasizes the distinct characteristics of another character.) As the plot progresses, Hamlet’s hesitancy to undertake his father’s revenge will markedly contrast with Laertes’ furious willingness to avenge his father’s death (III.iv). Act I, scene iii serves to introduce this contrast. Since the last scene portrayed the bitterly fractured state of Hamlet’s family, by comparison, the bustling normalcy of Polonius’s household appears all the more striking. Polonius’s long speech advising Laertes on how to behave in France is self-consciously paternal, almost excessively so, as if to hammer home the contrast between the fatherly love Laertes enjoys and Hamlet’s state of loss and estrangement. Hamlet’s conversation with the ghost of his father in Act I, scene v will be a grotesque recapitulation of the father-to-son speech, with vastly darker content.
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credit : http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/section3.rhtml

Hope it could help you anyway. :yawnb:

Now I'm studying Hamlet and I was responsible for Hamlet's character analysis which is quite hard for Thai student who can't read the old english language like me T-T. So if anyone have any interesting point of discussion about Hamlet, please let me know. I will try to visit this page often. :yawnb: