This speech is puzzling. It would be easy to think that
Hamlet has become more decisive in attaining his revenge, but the ideas and emotions
that are expressed here are somewhat contradictory. Hamlet is still conflicted. He is
angry with himself that he has not acted to avenge his father's death, but his anger is
much more controlled than it is when he castigates himself in his soliloquy in Act 2
that begins with
O what a rogue and peasant slave am
I
In Act 4, Hamlet is more
philosophical as he meditates on man's purpose in life, the nature of thought, and
Fortinbras's actions. Even though Hamlet seems to admire Fortinbras' ability to take
action
when honour's at
stake,
there is, nevertheless
an implied criticism of Fortinbras in Hamlet's description of him: Fortinbras is
fighting for an "egg-shell," twenty thousand men will go to their graves for a "fantasy
and trick of fame," they will fight for a plot of land that is not even large enough to
bury them. These are hardly rousing words. Hamlet seems to be questioning the merit of
the Fortinbras's actions while admiring the fact that Fortinbras is
acting.
At the end of this soliloquy, Hamlet declares
that
My
thoughts be bloody, or be nothing
worth!
The choice of the word
"thoughts" is interesting here. Hamlet does not say that his deeds will be bloody, just
his thoughts. In other words, it seems that Hamlet, despite all his says, may not be
truly convinced that avenging his father's death is a worthy act. Is killing Claudius
the equivalent of sacrificing many lives and the stability of a country for an "an egg
shell" of family honor?
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