Fardels for the Frail-Willed

Fardels for the Frail-Willed

The third soliloquy of Shakespeare’s Hamlet is quite controversial. Its interpretations are varied and well argued. Frequently directors add stage directions and other subtle nuances that add to the validity of their own interpretation because the soliloquy is somewhat vague in that respect. Also Shakespeare’s diction is so diverse that it is often hard to determine exactly what Hamlet means or even feels.

Hamlet begins by questioning whether it is nobler to suffer his misfortune or to oppose his troubles and end them. However his solution to opposing his troubles, rather than defeating them is to die. By saying “take arms against a sea of troubles (ll 59),” Shakespeare gives us an image of Hamlet rising to confront an army of suffering which at first seems noble and hopeful. But Hamlet’s perceived outcome of death gives the reader a sense of Hamlet’s hopelessness. Furthermore we see that Hamlet wants to be released from the вЂ?natural shocks’ or pains of the world by dying, “ вЂ?tis a consummation devoutly to be wish’d (ll 64-65).” This idea of being released from life gives the audience a sense of Hamlet’s suffering and his weakness of not being able to deal with life. But then comes the problem, or rub with Hamlet’s solution.

Hamlet questions the afterlife or, “what dreams may come (ll 66)” and sees why people put up with the “calamity of so long life (ll 69).” He determines that we would rather bear the burdens and scorns of life than experience death which is unknown to us. The fact that no one comes back from death and that no one truly knows what death is like makes people fearful of the afterlife and willing to put up with the hardships of life. Because Shakespeare uses the word вЂ?fardels’ or literally burdens in the shape of baggage of some sort along with grunt and sweat, the audience gets an excellent image of Hamlet trying to carry on with his life while quite literally carrying the heavy burdens he has to deal with. Also the image of Hamlet’s face changing from initial resolution to subsequent fear at the thought of suicide is quite moving. I believe very few people have seen the face of someone prepared to take their own life. Although