Darkness lurks over the garden as towering trees cast their immense shadows onto the hard dirt. Pebbles scatter the terrain mimicking the large boulder on which a man lies weeping. Gaining composure, he stands to his feet. Hesitating for only a second, the man’s companion places a gentle kiss of death upon his cheek. Torches flicker past the nearest mountain peak as a mob marches in unison, swords in hand. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas forsakes Jesus Christ. Sunlight pours in through the windows lining the white marble wall. Tapestries of navy and gold cascade from the tall ceiling. The noble ruler enters the hall, signaling the start of an important meeting. Flying daggers meet him as he steps through the door frame. Amidst the attack,
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Hamlet's first soliloquy contrasts the controlled dialogue he exchanges with his mother and uncle. His true emotions of anger, hatred, and grief pour out when he is alone with the audience. He characterizes Denmark as a “weary” (1.2.34) land filled with “rank” and “gross” inhabitants (1.2.137). Due to his mother’s remarriage and uncle’s coronation, Hamlet loses all hope for the people of his country and no longer sees the beauty of his kingdom. So distraught by his family’s betrayal, Hamlet wishes for relief in the form of death. He begs for his “sullied” flesh to “melt” (1.2.130) out of despondency, as “self-slaughter” would be a sin against the church (1.2.133). This line of his speech conveys Hamlet’s wide range of emotions as he grows more gentle with each image of death. What starts out as a snapshot of liquefying flesh prompted by the verb “melt” (1.2.130) is followed by a milder “thaw” (1.2.131) and finally his resolution into a “dew” (1.2.131). Hamlet’s sense of hopelessness stems from his uncle’s replacing his father on both the throne and his mother’s arm. He classifies Gertrude’s tears for her late husband as “unrighteous,” (1.2.155) lacking sincerity due to the “wicked” speed at which she remarries (1.2.157). As Hamlet ponders his mother’s recent actions, he rambles and loses composure as shown by the punctuation and syntax as the piece develops. The
Hamlet's first soliloquy contrasts the controlled dialogue he exchanges with his mother and uncle. His true emotions of anger, hatred, and grief pour out when he is alone with the audience. He characterizes Denmark as a “weary” (1.2.34) land filled with “rank” and “gross” inhabitants (1.2.137). Due to his mother’s remarriage and uncle’s coronation, Hamlet loses all hope for the people of his country and no longer sees the beauty of his kingdom. So distraught by his family’s betrayal, Hamlet wishes for relief in the form of death. He begs for his “sullied” flesh to “melt” (1.2.130) out of despondency, as “self-slaughter” would be a sin against the church (1.2.133). This line of his speech conveys Hamlet’s wide range of emotions as he grows more gentle with each image of death. What starts out as a snapshot of liquefying flesh prompted by the verb “melt” (1.2.130) is followed by a milder “thaw” (1.2.131) and finally his resolution into a “dew” (1.2.131). Hamlet’s sense of hopelessness stems from his uncle’s replacing his father on both the throne and his mother’s arm. He classifies Gertrude’s tears for her late husband as “unrighteous,” (1.2.155) lacking sincerity due to the “wicked” speed at which she remarries (1.2.157). As Hamlet ponders his mother’s recent actions, he rambles and loses composure as shown by the punctuation and syntax as the piece develops. The