Hamlet Soliloquy Glossary: O, that this too too solid flesh would melt (1.2.131-61)

But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue. (1.2.161)

Hamlet's heart is heavy because he must keep his anguish to himself. "The heart was thought to be kept in place by ligaments or tendons (the heart-strings) which might snap under the pressure of great emotion" (Edwards 91).

Back to Soliloquy Annotations

How to cite this article:

Mabillard, Amanda. Hamlet Soliloquy Glossary. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. (date when you accessed the information) < http://shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/soliloquies/butbreak.html >.

Related Articles

 Hamlet: Problem Play and Revenge Tragedy
 Hamlet's Silence
 Hamlet's Relationship with the Ghost
 The Significance of the Ghost in Armor
 Blank Verse and Diction in Shakespeare's Hamlet
 Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet

 Revenge in Hamlet
 Deception in Hamlet
 The Hamlet and Ophelia Subplot
 The Norway (Fortinbras) Subplot
 Foul Deeds Will Rise: Hamlet and Divine Justice

 Soliloquy Analysis: O this too too... (1.2.131)
 Soliloquy Analysis: O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!... (2.2.555-612)
 Soliloquy Analysis: To be, or not to be... (3.1.64-98)
 Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night... (3.2.380-91)
 Soliloquy Analysis: Now might I do it pat... (3.3.77-100)
 Soliloquy Analysis: How all occasions do inform against me... (4.4.35-69)

 Sources for Hamlet
 Quotations from Hamlet (with commentary)
 Hamlet Study Quiz (with detailed answers)
 Hamlet: Q & A