Hamlet's "What a Piece of Work Is Man"
An Analysis of Hamlet's Speech on Humanity and Human Nature
Jan 4, 2009
In Act II, Scene II of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark expresses his frustrations with humanity to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He gives a lyrical and famous speech that contains and is often referred to with the phrase "What a piece of work is man!"
The speech, with its lengthy and poignant descriptions, is a great example of Hamlet's eloquence. Here, as in other moments in the text, Hamlet makes effective use of contrasting ideas. The contrast in this speech is between the soaring, almost divine potential of mankind and Hamlet's own disillusionment with the people who surround him.
In this speech, Hamlet grapples with ideas that concerned many of the Renaissance's greatest minds. His reflection on the nature of man shows his own internal struggle as well as the general mindset of the literary world he calls home.
Hamlet's Lost Faith in Man
In his famous speech, Hamlet reveals to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he has lost his faith in humanity. Although he understands man as the "paragon of animals," the most noble of God's creations, he has become jaded and unimpressed through his interactions with the court at Elsinore. "Man delights not me," he says flatly in conclusion.
Hamlet expresses that once, long ago, he stood in awe of man and his miracles, but that lately he has lost his mirth. This revelation may be interpreted as a facet of his feigned madness; if he is simply acting insane in order to confuse Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (and by extension, their master Claudius), such a marked shift in personality could help substantiate his case. But if Hamlet is being sincere – as his direct language might imply – then these lines showcase a genuine shift in his personality. Now aware of the truth behind his father's death, Hamlet has set aside his admiration for his fellow man.
Realizations such as these are key to the plot of the tragedy, and almost every chief character experiences a similar transformation. Ophelia and Laertes both lose their faith in Hamlet once they become aware of his capacity for manipulation and bloodshed. Truth and deception are important elements of the play, and in this speech, Hamlet reveals that he is beginning to pull back the veil, to look upon what is truly rotten in the state of Denmark.
Contemporary Questions: Angel or Animal?
Hamlet's words also explore changing Renaissance attitudes toward the nature of man. The Renaissance was a time of self-discovery and self-celebration for humanity in general. The widespread study of Greek and Roman artifacts and relics gave Renaissance Europe a newfound sense of its own history and purpose. The classical heroes and legends were now newly relevant, and across Europe, great individuals strove to join the pantheons of the distant past.
During the Renaissance, the art of journaling and the genre of the memoir both enjoyed a massive upswing in popularity. Cellini, a sculptor of some renown, wrote one of the first successful autobiographies, celebrating his various experiences in book form. Montaigne's essays are another important example of the art. Indeed, within his own writing, Montaigne confronts this very issue, claiming in an essay that man, a "miserable and wretched creature," deigns to call himself the master of creation.
Hamlet's Struggle to Find a Place
The Renaissance was a time of heroic deeds, both past and present, but it was also a time of harsh reality. The market economy was swiftly transforming; new financiers were making a great profit on the backs of common people. The Black Plague had left the continent devestated. Religious wars and international conflict were commonplace.
In Act II, Scene 2, Hamlet tries to reconcile his grim surroundings with his previous high hopes for mankind. His continuing efforts to set this imbalance right again guide his progress toward his tragic fate.
