When faced with a life-changing decision, one can be paralyzed by fear which may prolong the struggle. In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the young prince of Denmark has been told by his father’s ghost that he was murdered by his uncle Claudius. Hamlet desires to avenge his father, yet he is also fearful. In this soliloquy, he weighs the decision for action against inaction. Through the use of figurative language and nuances, Shakespeare implies that when an individual struggles with inner conflict, fear will always influence the final decision.
To begin, Shakespeare uses figurative language to indicate the speaker’s fear when he is forced to make a vital decision - to seek revenge or to commit suicide. At the beginning of his soliloquy, Hamlet states, “Whether ‘tis nobler in …show more content…
The metaphors of warfare reveal a feeling of being victimized. The “slings” and “arrows” would suggest that the speaker is being hunted down by cruel fortune, thus becoming the prey of a higher power. To emphasize, Hamlet describes this “sea of troubles,” which suggests a burden that is impossible to be victorious over because it is very overwhelming. Hamlet is figuratively “drowning” because it is one problem after the next, and his fear is encompassing him like a sea of water. Most vividly, Hamlet questions, “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time” (15). The brutality of the word choice in this metaphor implies how fearful Hamlet feels. A whip is used as a form of punishment, and Hamlet is afraid to be punished by a heavenly power for betraying the ruling king. Also, he fears being scorned and his reputation being done away with if he avenges his father. Throughout this soliloquy, it is the use of figurative language that suggests Hamlet’s mind is ruled by fear.
To further imply the overpowering influence of fear, Shakespeare uses nuances,
To begin, Shakespeare uses figurative language to indicate the speaker’s fear when he is forced to make a vital decision - to seek revenge or to commit suicide. At the beginning of his soliloquy, Hamlet states, “Whether ‘tis nobler in …show more content…
The metaphors of warfare reveal a feeling of being victimized. The “slings” and “arrows” would suggest that the speaker is being hunted down by cruel fortune, thus becoming the prey of a higher power. To emphasize, Hamlet describes this “sea of troubles,” which suggests a burden that is impossible to be victorious over because it is very overwhelming. Hamlet is figuratively “drowning” because it is one problem after the next, and his fear is encompassing him like a sea of water. Most vividly, Hamlet questions, “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time” (15). The brutality of the word choice in this metaphor implies how fearful Hamlet feels. A whip is used as a form of punishment, and Hamlet is afraid to be punished by a heavenly power for betraying the ruling king. Also, he fears being scorned and his reputation being done away with if he avenges his father. Throughout this soliloquy, it is the use of figurative language that suggests Hamlet’s mind is ruled by fear.
To further imply the overpowering influence of fear, Shakespeare uses nuances,