To Speak or Not To Speak... That Is The Question... (Essay)

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." Although Hamlet shows some sort of "madness", as Polonius has put it, when he talks to himself but there is a reason for it.  Most of the time, we talk to hear ourselves talk even if there is no meaning behind it but Hamlet, however, speaks for his own clarification.  "One advantage to talking to yourself is knowing that at least one person is listening," (Franklin P. Jones).  Hearing ourselves talk is sometimes one of the greatest reassurances there is, as Hamlet has experienced throughout the play.  Saying something out loud gives you a verbal commitment towards a goal you are planning to work for or a promise you must keep.  It can help with memorizing and remembering things you need to do or have done as well.  Performative utterance is not only applicable to Hamlet but also to the real world.

In performative utterance, characters say their thoughts out loud in a way to try to reason with themselves.  (So rather, ‘To speak or not to speak; that is the question’.)  Hamlet’s “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquy, he reasons with himself about suicide.  He weighs the option very carefully “but that the dread of something after death” causes him to rethink the situation.   Hamlet realizes that “conscious does make coward of us all” because we are afraid of the unknown that surrounds the afterlife.  Hamlet browbeats himself as he speaks not only to show the audience what he is thinking but also to convince himself otherwise that death is not an option worth taking.  Pondering out loud can be useful if you are trying to sort out a difficult situation, much like Hamlet did. By talking to yourself, you can actually relieve stress and gain an emotional lagniappe despite what popular belief is (http://healthmad.com/).  It can also give you confidence as Hamlet experienced.  As a personal example, my self-confidence increases as I go through the memorization process if I recite something over and over again.

Sometimes, however, “we do more talking progress, than we do progressing.” (Will Rogers).  Hamlet’s words don’t always match up with his actions.  In Act I scene iv, Hamlet swears to remember his father and his murder but never fully says he will seek revenge for it.  In context, Hamlet means the same promise but in actuality, it isn’t the same promise.  Much like when you are playing a sport and somebody fouls you.  You are going to remember it and take it out on the person that did wrong to you.  Regardless of Hamlet’s actions in progress, he does acknowledge problems and then plans his own solutions to them. 

Self-overhearing is prevelant in Hamlet and in the real world.  Despite popular belief, talking to yourself isn’t an indicator of mental instability.  Hamlet listens to himself talk in order to clear his mind and sort out his situation.  He also gains confidence in his decision against suicide in his “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquy much like I gained confidence as I overheard myself reciting it.  Performative utterance isn’t just for show but is also is for mental well-being.