Le'Chelle's Hamlet SOAPStone

Le’Chelle Alexander
World Literature
Period D
January 21, 2011
Hamlet Soliloquy Essay

Hamlet is reciting this soliloquy after he threatens to go to Wittenberg to get away from the awkward marriage between his mother and his uncle, king Claudius and get away from the new kingdom that has been created under the ruling of king Claudius. Hamlet begins making this speech after his mother and the king leaves. He is venting out his emotions in private because he doesn’t feel that his views were heard when he spoke to his parents. Hamlet is experiencing a lot of stress during this time because he is still mourning the death of his father and he dislikes the swift and strange marriage between his uncle and mom; wanting to escape the madness he wishes to return to the university in Wittenberg, but his request is denied by his parents. Hamlet is disgusted with his mother’s quick decision “Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth, must I remember? Why, she (would) hang on him As an increase of appetite had grown,” (Act.1.Sc.2 146-149). Hamlet is very depressed by his parents quick decision to let him to return to the university in Wittenberg and wishes her were dead “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,” (Act.1.Sc.2 133-134).

Cavin Pledger's SOAPSTONE

Cavin Pledger
Mr. Lee
World Literature
20 January 2011


SOAPSTONE analysis of Hamlet’s Soliloquy
The speaker of Hamlet’s soliloquy is Hamlet. The occasion is Hamlet meeting with the King and Queen to discuss his mother’s marriage. The audience is higher class Elizabethans. The purpose of Hamlet’s soliloquy is to express his disapproval of his mother’s marriage. He feels his mother should not marry his father’s brother and that his father was a great King and deserves to be mourned longer. “O god, a beast that wants discourse of a reason would have mourned longer!” (I ii 14-15). By comparing his mother to a beast it is evident Hamlet feels like his mother has no heart or compassion for his father.
The subject of Hamlet’s soliloquy is his mother’s marriage to his uncle. Hamlet’s mother plans to get married only two months after Hamlet’s father dies. He strongly feels she should wait longer
The tone of Hamlet’s soliloquy is very upset and distraught because of his mother’s decision; “O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets!”(I ii 17-18). Dexterity meaning clever, Hamlet feels his mother is marrying his uncle for reasons other than love, this adds to a skeptical tone. Hamlet even calls his mother incestuous. Because incest was considered very immoral during Elizabethan times, Hamlet calling his mother incestuous adds to a very scornful tone.

Natalie Hernandez blog response one

In Act 1 Scene 1 Shakespear introduces Hamlet in ghost form. Bernardo recognizes the ghost" In the same figure like the King that's dead" (I.i.48-50). King Hamlets ghost is dressed not just there, he is dressed in war gear "Usurp'st this time of night, together with that fair and warlike form" (I.i.54-55). These events are alluding to war. Hamlet asn't dressed in any ordinary war cloths, he was dressed in the out-fit he wore when he defeated Norway " such was the very armor he had on when he the ambitious Morway combated" (I.i.71-72).

Cavin Pledger Hamlet Blog Response

Shakespeare wants to create a balance of character between Horatio and Marcellus. Horatio seems to be anxious compared to Marcellus who is calmer about things and more sensible. After the ghost had appeared Horatio said “this bodes some strange eruption to our state” (I i 80). Marcellus replied “ good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, why this same strict and most observant watch so nightly toils the subject of land”( I i 81-83). The modern reader can relate to this relationship because everybody has a friend that over reacts and one who thinks things through. Since many of Shakespeare’s plays are tragedies Horatio’s dramatic character and bold predictions add to the dramatic plot that Shakespeare's Elizabethan audience pay to see while Marcellus’s character more so guides the reader through the storyline and contrast Horatio’s character.

Le'Chelle's Hamlet Blog Response

Shakespeare seems to want the reader to like King Claudius because he speaks fondly of his late brother, Hamlet. King Claudius seems very grief stricken by the lost of Hamlet and he address that sorrow to the kingdom “To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom,”( Act 1, Sc.2, Line 3). He expresses great grief over the loss of his brother but he is the one that killed him. It seems that he hated his brother when he was living and he wanted what his brother had, which is why he took his place and king and then married his wife after a month of his death. It seems King Claudius is just putting on an act just to be perceived as a better king than Hamlet. I think it is successful how King Claudius is like a walking contradictory because he is grieving over the loss of his brother but he killed him, and took over the life he used to have. This can relate to the modern reader because this can happen to anybody. A parent dies and another family member or friend of the dead parent tries to come in and take the spot of the deceased parent.

Cavin Pledger Iambic Pentameter

Cavin Pledger
1-12-11
Period D

Iambic Pentameter- Basketball player

U / U / U / U / U /
Playing basketball always makes me glad.
U / U / U / U / U /
When I score I am very happy and proud.
U / U / U / U / U /
If I don’t score I am very sad and mad.
U / U / U / U / U /
I am more happy when I get an assist.
U / U / U / U / U /
Because passing is even more important.
U / U / U / U / U /
People who don’t pass are not good teammates.
U / U / U / U / U /
Those people should not play they are selfish
U / U / U / U / U /
As long as you pass the ball you are good.

Le'Chelle's Iambic pentameter poem

It’s Over

It was supposed to last forever with us
Nineteen months of happiness me and you
I will always love the time we shared dear
But I must say that what we had must end
Feeling your teeth on my face was the call
The pain and scars will heal but will my heart?
I’m just trying to be happy alone
Without you because it’s my time to shine
I’m in pain but I walk with a smile on
You won’t see me frown just know it’s over.

Victoria's Iambic Pentameter

Treat others how you want to be treated
That is a philosophy for my life.
Do not let others dictate what you do
Live your life according to how you feel.
Be real with yourself and the rest will be
Do not let people throw you off your square.
Know that God will always be there for you
He is the only one you can turn to

Elizabethan Culture and Customs

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