SYNOPSIS OF HAMLET’S ACT-I AND THE SUMMARIES OF THE FIRST TWO SOLILOQUIES.
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Hamlet's first soliloquy expresses his deep grief over his mother Gertrude's hasty remarriage to his uncle Claudius just one month after his father's death. He wishes he could cease to exist through suicide. His second soliloquy occurs after meeting his father's ghost, which reveals that Claudius in fact murdered Hamlet's father. Hamlet is stunned and filled with rage and grief upon learning his father did not die naturally but was murdered. He swears to obey the ghost's command to avenge his father's death.
SYNOPSIS OF HAMLET’S ACT-I AND THE SUMMARIES OF THE FIRST TWO SOLILOQUIES.
- 1. Assignment of Drama – II. Name: Aleena Farooq. Roll No. 07. B.S. English – 6th Semester. TOPIC: SYNOPSIS OF HAMLET’S ACT-I AND THE SUMMARIES OF THE FIRST TWO SOLILOQUIES. ¶ Background: The Tragical History Of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or, as it's more simply known, Hamlet, is a play that holds immense importance in English literature. This drama was written by William Shakespeare between 1599 and 1601. The plot is set in the country of Denmark, and the main protagonist is Prince Hamlet. Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest drama. It is still considered a pioneer in English literature. Several films and plays have been made as adaptations, featuring many renowned actors. ¶ Synopsis of Act-I:- Shakespeare's longest play and the play responsible for the immortal lines "To be or not to be: that is the question:" and the advice "to thine own self be true," begins in Denmark with the news that King Hamlet of Denmark has recently died. Denmark is now in a state of high alert and preparing for possible war with Young Fortinbras of Norway. A ghost resembling the late King Hamlet is spotted on a platform before Elsinore Castle in Denmark. King Claudius, who now rules Denmark, has taken King Hamlet's wife, Queen Gertrude as his new wife and Queen of Denmark. King Claudius fearing Young Fortinbras of Norway may invade, has sent ambassadors to Norway to urge the King of Norway to restrain Young Fortinbras. Young Hamlet distrusts King Claudius. The King and Queen do not understand why Hamlet still mourns his father's death over two months ago. In his first soliloquy, Hamlet explains that he does not like his mother marrying the next King of Denmark so quickly within a month of his father's death. Laertes, the son of Lord Chamberlain Polonius, gives his sister Ophelia some brotherly advice. He warns Ophelia not to fall in love with Young Hamlet; she will only be hurt. Polonius tells his daughter Ophelia not to return Hamlet's affections for her since he fears Hamlet is only using her. Hamlet meets the Ghost of his father, King Hamlet and follows it to learn more. Hamlet learns from King Hamlet's Ghost that he was poisoned by King Claudius, the current ruler of Denmark. The Ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his death, but not to punish Queen Gertrude for remarrying; it is not Hamlet's place and her conscience and heaven will judge her. Hamlet swears Horatio and Marcellus to silence over Hamlet meeting the Ghost. What Is A Soliloquy? The term "Soliloquy" ( so-lil-o-quy) is generally used as a means of character revelation or character manifestation to the audience or the reader of the drama. Soliloquy is used as a tool or process by which the dramatist conveys the secret thoughts and/or intentions of the character, to the audience or the reader of the drama, but; also while doing so, it preserves the secrecy of those thoughts from the other characters of that drama. A soliloquy is generally made when the character is alone, or when he/she thinks to be alone, in order to preserve the secrecy from other characters.
- 2. What Is The Purpose Of Soliloquy? The main purpose of a soliloquy remains to acquaint the audience or the reader, the secret thoughts and/or intentions that the character is having in his mind. It also puts light on the external relationships, thoughts, and the future actions related to the character and to the other characters of the drama. Hence, it also discloses the feelings, the thoughts that the character has in his mind for the others. Development of Plot: Furthermore, the soliloquy also acquaints us of the development of the play with what the speaker decides to do in his mind. It means that, after having the knowledge of the secret thoughts of the character, and his/her intentions, we can presume what is next to come. Summary: A soliloquy means, when a character of a drama/play conveys his/her secret thoughts and/or intentions to the audience or the readers. While doing so, he/she preserves the secrecy of those thoughts/intentions from other characters of the drama. It just the character and the reader. It helps the audience/reader to better understand: the character, his thoughts, his intentions, and the presumable development of the play. ¶ Summary of Hamlet’s First Soliloquy (Act-I: Scene-II): The first soliloquy of Hamlet falls in the Act 1, Scene II, after the King Claudius and the Queen Gertrude urges Hamlet in the open court to cast off the deep melancholy which, as they think, has taken possession of his mind as a consequence of his father’s death. In their opinion, Hamlet has sufficiently grieved for his father’s death already. Prior to the soliloquy, the King Claudius and Queen Gertrude makes announcement to their marriage, as according to them, the court could not afford excessive grief, which further saddens Hamlet. Hamlet refers the world as an ‘unweeded garden’ in which rank and gross things grow in abundance. In the first soliloquy, Hamlet bemoans the fact that he cannot commit suicide. He wishes that his physical self might cease to exist. He says: “O that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!” Though saddened by his father’s death, the larger cause of Prince Hamlet’s misery is Queen Gertrude’s disloyal marriage to his uncle, barely in a month of his actual father’s death. He scorns his mother by saying: “Frailty, thy name is woman!” Prince Hamlet mourns that even ‘a beast would have mourned a little longer.’ Hamlet considers this marriage of his mother, to be an incestuous affair. This soliloquy shows Hamlet’s deep affection with his beloved father. It also puts light on the character of the dead King that he was a loving husband and a respected father. This soliloquy also enlightens the fact in the haste in which Queen Gertrude decides to marry with the dead King’s brother, without mourning for a respectable period of time.
- 3. ¶ Summary of Hamlet’s First Soliloquy (Act-I: Scene-V): Hamlet’s second soliloquy occurs in Act 1, Scene 5, right after the ghost of the dead King, Hamlet’s father, leaves having charged Hamlet with the duty of taking the revenge upon the murderer of his father: “foul and most unnatural murder” The ghost of the dead king tells Hamlet that as he slept in his garden, a villain poured poison into his ear. The ghost reveals to Hamlet about the murderer by saying: “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life / Now wears his crown” It reveals the fact to Hamlet, that actually King Claudius is the real murderer of his dead father. Hamlet got stunned by the revelation and echoes of the Ghost’s words asking him to remember it. This soliloquy, as reveals an important secret to Hamlet, carries within the rage and grief of Hamlet. He is shocked, stunned and in great grief upon the revelation of the fact that his father was rather murdered by Hamlet’s uncle, than to be naturally died. Hamlet now refers to his mother as the “most pernicious woman” and to his uncle as a “villain”, a “smiling damned villain”. In the end of the soliloquy, Hamlet swears to remember and obey the ghost. This soliloquy holds immense importance and is one of the pivotal pillars in Act 1.