THE PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCE IN HAMLET

Apparently, I accidentally left this post in my drafts and forgot to publish it until now.  These are my notes from the essay "The Performative Utterance in William Shakespeare's Hamlet" by Fredrik deBoer.

• 1st paragraph - Hamlet's utterances provide an insight into his character and illustrate his thoughts.
• The locutionary force, the illocutionary force, and the perlocutionary force are all part of performative language that can convince someone of its meaning when a phrase is said.
• Harold Boom - "argues that Shakespeare's characters frequently develop through 'self-overhearing.'  Shakespeare's characters, in this argument, overhear themselves speaking and in doing so gain knowledge.
• This "self-overhearing" occurs when Hamlet contemplates whether or not to commit suicide and when he decides whether or not to kill his uncle while he is praying or wait a little longer.
• Talking to oneself or stating something can bind that person to their word.  It is additional insurance that they will come through with what they say.
• I still think that Hamlet could genuinely be mad, by seeing his ghost and through his strange behavior.  I think he is traumatized by the murder of his father and might need some psychological help.