The soliloquies found on Shakespeare's play Hamlet have many functions throughout the story. In Act 3 Scene 1 comes one of Hamlet's most famous soliloquies, which starts with the famous words "to be or not to be". This soliloquy holds utmost significance as here, Hamlet ponders his existence and whether he should die to avoid his present problem, or live to fight through it. This speech allows readers the insight into Hamlet's innermost thoughts, that would previously not be conveyed unless he had spoken them aloud. Hamlet's soliloquies transport the reader into a world within the character, making it much easier to relate to the character's situation.
In this speech, for example, Hamlet ponders death because he is deeply burdened and deeply grieved by his father's unknown death and his mother's rash actions into a quick remarriage. Faced with the huge decision to end his life in order to escape the horrible truth and regretful situation, in the soliloquy Hamlet speaks aloud, his most personal thoughts of life and death. Without the soliloquy, readers could not be able to fully comprehend the vast complexities within the mind of a character, the personal struggle between the conscience and soul, and also the decisions that define the character and change him throughout the play.
Hamlet presses on and asks if it is more honorable to take every hit with every stone thrown at him in this dreadful situation, or end the situation as it is. This speech conveys the clash between Hamlet's conscience, wanted to pull through a rather difficult situation, and his will, to end the situation and lay peacefully in death. The soliloquy allows us to relate to Hamlet, looking back at whatever our difficult situations were in life. This allows readers to better understand the story by making personal connections once the thoughts of the character are revealed. The soliloquy bridges the gap between the actions portrayed in the story, and the true thoughts and intentions not portrayed, only able to be seen in the dark light of a soliloquy.
Why carry such a heavy burden if you could easily let it go? Hamlet ponders the question in this speech even hoping for an afterlife to ease his pain and suffering that his father's cruel death has brought upon him. Through Hamlet's actions in the play, suicide would be covered by his insanity and wit, but in a soliloquy the intentions of a character are shed in a different light. Here, and only here, are the deepest emotions and intentions revealed, uncovered as Hamlet speaks alone. The reader gets an experience like no other as the character's evolution throughout the story is also demonstrated with each soliloquy.
The soliloquies in this play play an important part in characterization and also keeping the reader interested in the character. Through it we can see the things uncovered, reveal the unrevealable, and even for a moment glance into the mind and heart of a character like never before.
