Hamlet and Performative Utterance

Using what you've learned about Hamlet the character and Hamlet the play, evaluate the impact of performative utterance on Hamlet and your own sense of self. How does the way Hamlet speaks constitute action in itself? How does it impact the characters and the plot? How does this compare with your own "self-overhearing"? How does the way you reflect on your experience create a sense of memory, expectation, and real-world results? Use the text, your reading/lecture notes, the experience of memorizing the "To be, or not to be" soliloquy, de Boer's paper (and Bloom's/Austin's theoretical frameworks), and the many online and offline discussions we've had.

"To be or not to be, that is the question," is perhaps one of the most famous lines in literary history. This line from Act III of Shakespeare's Hamlet is also a wonderful example of performative utterance. In the scene of this famous soliloquy Hamlet is speaking aloud to himself and working through some of the more difficult thoughts in his mind. Performative utterance allows characters as well as audience members to further understand themselves and the situations they are facing. This is something we ourselves due on a daily basis.  Performative utterance in Hamlet helps Hamlet's words to constitute action, impacts the characters and plot, and uses "self-overhearing" as a way for the characters to reinforce their decisions and come to terms with their emotions.


Hamlet is famous for his lengthy soliloquies. He often goes off on long tangents in which in his own self-deprecating way he is able to make his decisions known to himself and to the audience. By saying aloud that "O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!" Hamlet's words have become his final decision that he will in fact act out in revenge against Claudius. Every time Hamlet says the words aloud he becomes more resolved within his own mind that he will in fact strike out. In this way performative utterance becomes a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy that we have all attempted at some point. The more you tell yourself that you are capable of passing that big midterm the more likely it is to happen.


Often times, our words that we say aloud to ourselves or even just in our heads can influence the decisions we make. The plot of Hamlet was influenced by performative utterance. If a character would realize something during a private moment, they would almost immediately take action on it. This was clear in Lord Polonius' musings of Hamlet being in love with his daughter. Once this was reinforced in his mind he went straight to the King and worked out a plan to prove himself correct. When we think something is dangerous or worthwhile we often repeat it to ourselves to reinforce our feelings on it before we decide how to act.


Self-overhearing was a common form of performative utterance used. "To be or not to be" allowed Hamlet to give voice to some of his darker thoughts that had been plaguing his mind. When we overhear ourselves speaking we gain a new perspective on our own thoughts and emotions. We are given the opportunity to listen to what we are thinking and it allows us to reinforce and opinion or even a decision we are making. Hamlet often used self-over hearing to work through his decisions and question his existence. While memorizing "To be or not to be" I used self-overhearing as a way to enhance my memorization. I would read the words and say them out loud not only to help myself remember them but also to increase my comprehension of the soliloquy.


Self-overhearing also greatly enhances a person's ability to understand their emotions. Hamlet had some very morbid thoughts and upon saying them out loud was able to organize them in a sense. I often use this method to sort through my own personal issues and feelings. If I begin to feel increasingly stressed sometimes I stop myself and ask aloud "What's bothering me?" and then proceed to list off my major troubles. By doing this I am able to feel as if I have more of a handle on any situation and more capable of working through it.

Performative utterance played a great role in Hamlet. The musings and inner thoughts of the characters reinforced their motivations for their actions to themselves as well as to the audience. Performative utterance can help to move the plot forward as well as add emotional depth to each of the characters.