Performative Utterance Essay

         The correlation between words and actions directly relates to  the level of unison a mental state is in with universally accepted reality. The separation between what one hopes to be real and what actually is either shows a complex relation of the mind and the physical world. This struggle is exhibited by us all, and can be seen through the character of  Hamlet in one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. From the depths on his mind Hamlet's quest of revenge is heated with inner rage until it bubbles over into the characters' lives. Each step is carefully plotted out within his mental facility and creeps its way into every scene. The relation is not only limited to the world of Shakespeare, but can be seen in each of us. The loss of material between thoughts, words, and actions, plays a critical role in life, as I have seen myself. Performative utterance plays a major role in both the world of Hamlet and our own.
       Hamlet's  words directly correspond to each action he commits. They lead to his tragic death along with many of the other main characters in the play. Note that it is important to distinguish Hamlet's actions as a character in such a play. In a way he is forced to do what he says in order to stay true to a character, and if he didn't the play wouldn't flow in such a way to entice its audience. That said Hamlet's words concoct what his does. The beginning of the play ushers in the first example with his talk to his father's ghost. His verbal commitment to avenge the murder of which he hears is taken in full seriousness and sets the stage for the plot. He again reconfirms this commitment when he judges Claudius's guilty reaction to the play he planned. Hamlet's actions become increasing complex when he comes into interaction with characters he cares not of. When he talks to Polonius, Claudius, Rosencrantz, or Guildenstern, his true intent stays a mystery to the other. He reaffirms his sanity at the beginning of the play in the reveal of his plan to act such in order to keep his true intents hidden and therefore keeping to his words the whole play, and his words stay true to his actions the whole play.
        The world as we know it however distinguishes greatly between what is said and what is done. It is of great importance to divide such breaks of connection into different categories. The first of which is to say something of which you have no intent of doing in the first place. This form is looked down upon the most as it is said to undermine the integrity of the words that the individual says from then on. Second, is having the intent to do something you say but never actually doing that act. This form gains more empathy than the first,  but ends up having the same overall miscommunication as the first. The third situation is the most complex of the possibilities. Saying that you are going to do something , and believing that you have indeed completed this task without doing so. This example takes on complexity in judging if something has been completed,which is often varied between  perspectives. Take for example someone who says they will contribute money to those in need after a natural disaster. They donate it to a foundation, and this foundation spends the money on luxuries for their company rather than on others. The result of this case are exactly the same as the first example, but shows the power of personal perspective between words and actions.
     Performative utterance can also be seen within my own life. Examples as of yet have all been a part of outside observation. However, simply by observing events you change the outcomes of those events. Self reflection on learning the famous soliloquy To Be or Not To Be has yielded a variety of results. One of the most interesting points I found in the recital was a mistake I had made. A simple slip of the word scorn in place of spurn. What makes this minute subject a study of interest is that I had truly thought that was the wording at the time of the recital. Having studied it wrong the whole time, that had become my new reality, and I would have gladly accepted this reality, if everyone else's didn't directly conflict with my own. My words had affected my mental patterns, and had altered my reality. Therefore I have learned that our words become intertwined in what we do and think, and help shape our personal reality.
      Performative utterance is a very powerful idea. It relates themes of truth, insanity, honor, and reality. Hamlet used it to entice readers through the ages. To make fools of some, and to create truth of words through what he did. His talk of revenge consumed both his words and actions and helped combine the two into a tragedy that this revenge lead to. The use of words must be taken to heart in each of us. They must be used with care, and taken to heart, lest we get trapped within our own sense of reality.