How Hamlet's use of Language Differentiates Himself from Epic Heroes such as Beowulf: Essay

             Hamlet stands out as a character because he was one of the first, if not the first, to provide us with a window into his thinking.  Characters before Hamlet were very simple in their use of language; using language to describe, direct, and reveal.  Hamlet deviated from this in using his language indirectly, to conceal and deceive, and to analyze his own thinking.  In other words, Hamlet uses language to convey his thoughts and thus he diverges from the epic hero, such as Beowulf, who uses language to communicate his actions.  By using his language indirectly and to hint, to veil and to mislead, and to analyze himself and his thoughts, Hamlet’s use of language differentiates himself from epic heroes such as Beowulf.

             Early heros, such as Beowulf, use language in a very direct manner; stating every deliberate meaning to their intentions.  For example, in this quote, “Our errand is a great one, our business with the glorious King of the Danes is no secret; there’s nothing dark or hidden in our coming.” Beowulf, to the Watchman upon the Danish shore, deliberately delivers a concrete and direct message with his language.  Hamlet is dramatically different.  “I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful (italics mine), ambitious, with more offenses at my beck that I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in.”  Here, Hamlet states everything he plans to do, he announces to the audience, who, under popular misconception may believe Hamlet has not made up his mind, that he has decided on revenge, however, this is not stated directly to either Ophelia or the audience, all Hamlet says directly is that he is revengeful.  Nevertheless, with this single word it is spoken indirectly that Hamlet is marching towards revenge and has contrived a brilliant mouse trap in which to execute it.  In doing this, Hamlet differentiates himself from the epic hero, Beowulf.  Beowulf even goes far enough to use his language to state that there is nothing hidden or concealed in his actions or language, Hamlet, quite differently, conceals a lot with his language.

             Beowulf, by stating all his intentions and leaving nothing hidden, uses his language to be straightforward and to conceal nothing and deceive no one.  Hamlet, notwithstanding, deceives every character in the play with his language.  In the passage beginning with, “Do you know me, my lord,” and ending with, “except my life, except my life.”  Hamlet tricks Polonius into believing that he has been driven mad.  All of language is manipulated and twisted in order to be understood as madness.  Hamlet creates this front of madness in order to hide his thoughts, in order mislead and play off that he’s really planning for revenge.  This use of language (to veil and hide) by Hamlet, again, deviates from Beowulf’s.  However, when purely alone Hamlet reveals his true thoughts and uses language in a way that significantly differentiates himself from Beowulf and similar epic heros.  

             Most significantly, Hamlet uses his language to convey and analyze his thoughts.  Whereas Beowulf uses his language to describe his actions.  Examine this quote of Beowulf, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought endless battles, I am old, now, bit I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” It is clear that Beowulf is simply describing his actions with his language.  Now, regard the Hamlet passage beginning with, “Now I am alone,” and ending with, “eyes and ears.”  In this passage Hamlet conveys unto the audience his thoughts about the player, and how the player, for nothing, can weep for Hecuba, a fictional character.  Hamlet analyzes himself, compares himself to this player and finds that he has all the passion and reason, yet does not act.  Hamlet states, “Had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have?  He would drown the stage in tears,” thus communicating Hamlet’s thoughts about his inability to act on his oath of revenge.  Hamlet is using language to communicate his thoughts and reflections, quite the opposite of Beowulf; communicating his actions with his language.  Hamlet demonstrates this difference in use of language in nearly all of his soliloquies.  In this way, Hamlet creates an impressive difference between himself and epic heroes like Beowulf who merely spoke of their actions.  

             Hamlet uses language uniquely when compared to Beowulf: Hamlet uses language indirectly, to hide his intent, and to reveal his thoughts.  These three elements differentiate Hamlet a great deal and are, consequently, what made him an iconic character of the English language.