Explain the soliloquies of Hamlet.

A soliloquy is a speech that a character gives when on
stage that reveals his/her inner most feelings to the audience. Hamlet has several
soliloquies in the play and Clauidus has one.

In act I
scene ii Hamlet has his first soliloquy where he expresses his feelings about his
father's death and his mother's quick marriage. He states that he is so upset that he
would end his life if it where not a crime against God to do so. He also expresses his
anger towards his mother, and he calls all women weak.

In
act II scene ii after the actors perform their monologue about Priam and Hecuba, Hamlet
has another soliloquy. In this soliloquy he expresses the fact that he is upset with
himself for not taking action to avenge his father. He comments on the fact that the
actor is able to cry over Hecuba, someone he doesn't even know, but he has not done
anything to avenge his own father's death. He also comments on needing proof because he
is not entirely sure the ghost is not a spirit sent to drag him into Hell. Hamlet
decides to use the play, The Mouse Trap, to identify the king's
guilt.

In act III scene ii Hamlet contemplates life and
death in his famous "To Be or Not To Be" soliloquy. He contemplates whether it is better
to live in this world with all the pain, suffering, rudeness and sadness or end one's
life. He talks about death as a long sleep. He also says that people don't choose death
because it is unknown what happens when one dies. He states that people are afraid of
the unknown.

In act III scene iii Claudius has a solioquy
when he tries to pray. Clauidus admits that he killed his brother, the former king, but
he knows his prayers will not go to Heaven because of his actions and his greed. He does
not want to give back any of the things he has received because of the killing -the
queen, the crown, his power.

Finally, in act IV scene iv
Hamlet has his final soliloquy. In this soliloquy Hamlet comments on the fact that
Fortinbras has put an army together to fight and gain a small piece of land. Hamlet is
again upset with himself for not taking action to avenge his father's murder. He can't
believe that Fortinbras has spent so much time and energy to gain a small piece of land
and he has not done anything to avenge his father -a cause that is very important to
him. At the end of the soliloquy Hamlet vows to get revenge and to stop letting things
stand in his way.