Performative Utterance

Performative utterance, which is Austin’s terminology, is a sentence that does something in the world rather than describing something about it or, in Austin’s own words, “refers to those sentences which conform to the old prejudice in that they are used to describe or state something.”  Although Austin specifically left out drama when he originally formulated his theory, later analysts contended that the performance utterance is a significant component of drama.  There are many examples of performative utterance throughout the play “Hamlet” such as Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy and it is used to show the emotions of characters towards other characters.  His soliloquy basically brings about a state of mind or affair rather than straight up describing one.  Hamlet’s soliloquies involve him talking to himself about his ideas and thoughts of other characters and situations; demanding action from others.  Shakespeare uses performative utterance through Hamlet’s speeches that impact all of the characters and the plot because we get to hear his interpretation and feelings about everybody else.

            Hamlet has many soliloquies that have performative utterance in “Hamlet” the play.  His most famous one is “to be or not to be”.  It brings Hamlet’s state of mind, his thoughts and feelings of the characters and whether he should commit suicide or stay alive and kill Claudius, rather than explaining his thoughts.  According to De Poer “Hamlet is a character of almost unique power… nonetheless proceeds through the majority of the narrative largely impotent to enact his revenge.”  This means that the audience has the opportunity to see what Hamlet’s thoughts are about the other characters and his plot for revenge just through his speech, even without any actual action.  The audience has the opportunity to think through a course of action that may or may not really occur. Shakespeare uses the performative utterance in the form of Hamlet’s soliloquy to portray two separate plans of action.  Hamlet through his soliloquies describes his plot to seek revenge by murdering Claudius.  The actual action of the play differs greatly from that described by Hamlet

            Hamlet’s speeches involve action and the command for action by others.  It shows his sense of action and revenge when he explains he wants to kill Claudius for what he did to his father.  Hamlet’s speeches impact the whole story, because we get to see the characters and the plot according to Hamlet.  When I read Hamlet’s speeches I get to understand the characters in a different way, and I get to view the plot according to one of the characters, Hamlet.

            Though not a term used in his day, Shakespeare’s  use of performative utterance has a big impact in “Hamlet”.  Through Hamlet’s soliloquies we are exposed to his inner thoughts and feelings.  His soliloquies are examples of perfromative utterance because it shows his state of mind instead of actually straight up describing one.

I changed the thesis and addressed the promt.  I wasn't sure what else to do.