J.O — ORIGINAL WORK

14 November 2024

Literary Analysis Essay

Humanity and the Burden of Existence

Humans are often prisoners of their own indecision, of their own pain. It’s the human experience, it’s fate—or rather, their doom. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet ventures deep into this idea along with the complexity of human nature and the difficulties that make up human existence. Through his soliloquies, Hamlet deals with a persistent struggle between action and inaction, representing humanity’s potential for greatness while being held back by flaws. Indecision, hesitation, disappointment, and fear—the inescapable hardships of life. In Hamlet, humanity is shown to be both beautiful and tragic and these soliloquies serve as reminders of just that. Human nature is a unique and wonderful thing, yet flawed. Capable of great things but restrained. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s soliloquies to present a complicated view of humanity and its flaws that define people, depicting humans as indecisive beings with the potential for greatness, though restrained by shortcomings from life’s inherent suffering.

To start off, Hamlet's first soliloquy which he delivers only a few weeks after the death of his father, describes his grief and disappointment at the state of the world as he wallows in despair and self-hatred. Hamlet opens his soliloquy with, “O, that this too solid flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew” (1.2.129-130). At this point, Hamlet is overwhelmed by the pain following his father’s death and his mother’s quick remarriage to his uncle and the desire for his death, to disappear into nothingness and escape the emotional and psychological pain he is experiencing, only to be further tormented by his moral struggle, reflects his indecision through desperation and frustration. Though he desperately wants to end it all to rid himself of his pain, he cannot get himself to act. This causes him to exude a common trait in humans when instead of facing his issues, he externalises his feelings, tearing down others in his attempts to cope. This is not only seen through his need for vengeance for his father, aiming his revenge toward Claudius, but also in his newfound hatred for women seen in his famous quote, “frailty, thy name is woman” (1.2.146). Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s hesitation to show a major aspect of human nature—the tendency to avoid action and externalise pain.

Moreover, in Hamlet’s third soliloquy in the second act of scene two, Shakespeare presents two different views of humanity. The first that acknowledges humanity’s potential for greatness and the second which critiques its consistent failures and disappointments. Describing humans as “infinite in faculties, in form and moving how / express and admirable, in action, how like an angel” (2.2.313-314), explains the admirable qualities of humanity and the seemingly endless potential, viewing humans as powerful and filled with possibility, yet not a few lines  earlier, Hamlet says that humanity ultimately feels like “a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours” (2.2.311). The shift from disappointment to admiration emphasises the contrasting ideas found in Hamlet. The ambitions found in human nature only for many to feel let down by the realities of life and the sometimes cruel motivations of others. Shakespeare uses these lines to reinforce his idea of human flaws, reflecting his—or at least Hamlet’s idea of the lack of drive or courage found in human beings and the tendency to settle for mediocrity or inertia—a trait often seen in the nine to five job trap the world’s best creatives tend to fall into. Humans are capable of great thoughts, but often choose the easiest path, or worse—allow fear and doubt to dictate their life.

Finally, Hamlet’s fourth soliloquy found in the first scene of act three is one of the most famous soliloquies within Shakespeare's work. It represents Hamlet’s thoughts on suffering and the human desire for purpose. Hamlet describes the realities of being human, including the inherent suffering that comes with human existence. The question “to be or not to be” (3.1.56), asks why humans endure suffering when death might bring an escape. When in the end, no matter how good or bad of a person someone was, everyone’s life will eventually come to an end. Hamlet finds himself wondering whether it is nobler to “suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles” (3.1.58–59). In other words, he questions if it’s even worth confronting the weight of suffering when there is always the supposed ‘freedom’ that comes with death. Though not always necessarily so extreme, these words represent a universal experience—the struggle to find meaning in hardships, versus simply giving up. That being said, no one knows what truly happens after death and this fear of the unknown is an idea that takes on a major role in Hamlet’s indecision and the minds of many people. This soliloquy portrays the human fear of what is waiting beyond life, showing how fear can prevent people from making a decision and taking action, even when said action may end suffering—or so one may think. Even Hamlet realises this, when he says, “conscience does make cowards of us all” (3.1.83), later on in the play, acknowledging how the human mind’s habit of overthinking and self-doubt can paralyse us. Shakespeare realises that the wish for purpose is as powerful as it is terrifying, portraying humans as being held back by the very things that can make humans great.

Through Hamlet’s soliloquies, Shakespeare describes humanity as both capable of greatness and restrained by flaws and indecision. Hamlet’s first soliloquy puts into words the human tendency to deal with grief and self-doubt externally, often leading to inaction, while his third soliloquy represents the human potential for greatness and the disappointment that often follows. Finally, Hamlet’s fourth soliloquy reflects the struggle with suffering and the desire for purpose, emphasising how fear stops humans from reaching their potential. Ultimately, Hamlet’s journey as a character mirrors the pursuit of greatness, held back by the things that make people human. Shakespeare captures the tragic beauty of human existence, full of promise but prisoners of their own suffering and indecision.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Signet Classics, Penguin Random House LLC, 2006.