Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet is a tragic play in which, one of the most famous speeches ever written was said. The speech “To be or not to be” was spoken by hamlet in Act 3, the first scene, in the famous “nunnery scene”. It referred to as soliloquy, the staging of this scene¬ considerably was to test Hamlet by King Claudius and Polonius. They were trying to figure out if Hamlet was truly mad or pretending to be, Hamlet by then surely knew who killed his father because of the earlier appearance of the Ghost. The tragedy of Hamlet is complicated but as it is read increasingly, a knot is untied, and you see hamlet differently every time, the monologue is basically a fluctuating argument Hamlet has with himself over committing suicide or …show more content…
Perhaps the most important part of the soliloquy is when the question is introduced “To be, or not to be-that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” (3, 1, 59-61), hamlets asks himself the question of whether life is meaningful to him or not if killing his uncle was the only answer to him, as much as try’s avoiding it he can never. Hamlet goes deeper in his imaginative portrayal of death, he believes his death only but sleep and can easily subdue his fear from it, “To die- to sleep- No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks” (3, 1, 63-65) his feeling towards death has changed due to his past experience, although he further on in the soliloquy speaks of how his dreams are like death to him he imaginatively sees the afterlife and doesn’t know if he wants to depart to such a place “To die- to sleep. to sleep- perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub! for in that sleep of death what dreams May come” (3,1, 68-69). Hamlet has a moment in which he feels respect for the life he is given, and this contradicts his first quotes which really describe his suicidal intention for an easy ending to his life, “When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause. There's the respect that makes calamity of so long life” (3, 1, 70-72), the fact that hamlet is actually a prince and to him there is way more at stake than just committing
Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy is conceivably the most prominent soliloquy in the archive of the theatre. Even now, more than 400 years after it was originally written there is still an air of familiarity that reaches others even if they do not know the play itself in detail. In act 3, scene 1, Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” Soliloquy is critical in developing the plot because this is when Hamlet discusses his most suicidal thoughts.
One major theme within the play is the pervasiveness of death; death is everywhere within hamlet’s life and is a driving factor of the plot. This theme can be found in many parts of the play; for example, in Act 5 scene 2 of the play hamlet sends two players to their death in England (Shakespeare 1181). This shows how death is a mundane occurrence in hamlets time, this is shown in how hamlet shows almost no remorse for his actions and the subject is quickly overlooked. Within the soliloquy “To be, or not to be” hamlet comments on this theme and shows the audience his own ideas on the subject. One of his ideas is stated as “to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep (Shakespeare 1127).” In this line hamlet relates death to a peaceful sleep; by connecting the two terms hamlet conveys a certain familiarity in death as in sleep. Maybe in reducing death to nothing more than a sleep, hamlet is stating that dying is as simple
When Hamlet is set up and spied on by Claudius and Polonius, he examines the moral aspect of suicide in a painful world. He opens his soliloquy with asking a simple question, "To be, or not to be:that is the question:" (III. i. 58), that is, whether to live or to die. He then begins to question whether it is nobler to suffer life and the, "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," (III. i. 66), or to take ones life and end one's suffering. He compares death to sleep and at first thinks that
Hamlet bases the end of his soliloquy off of the idea, “conscience does make cowards of us all” (3.1.91). In the contemplation of this idea, he transitions into a more philosophical and ambiguous tone, discussing the implications of questioning life versus death. Hamlet continues to say, “thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought” (3.1.92-3), stating that too much contemplation misguides our actions and therefore causes us to neglect them. In this instance, Hamlet is diving further into the issue he is discussing rather than the situation. He turns his contemplation of whether or not he should kill himself into one surrounding the extent and limitations of human thought. He begins to discuss existence in general, rather than this idea in the context of his life or everyone’s lives. Hamlet’s soliloquy, which is intended to be solely a representation of his own thoughts, is no longer general such that it seems to describe the situations of others, but it goes further as to contemplate the nature of thought in
Next, in one of the most famous soliloquies in the English language, Hamlet again contemplates the subject of suicide, but he does not do so on impulses of emotion. Instead, his contemplation is based on reason. “To be or not to be, that is the question: whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer outrageous fortune…or end them. To die, to sleep- no more- and by a sleep to say we end the heartache…’Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time…who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life, but that the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler
The topic of Hamlet’s soliloquy is his consideration of committing suicide. Throughout the speech, it is obvious that Hamlet is over thinking and wavering between two different extremes: life and death. "Whether 'tis nobler in the
This soliloquy, found in the third act of the play, presents the the question to end all questions for Hamlet - the question of life or death. In many ways, this long-winded and heartfelt speech is the epitome of Hamlet’s neverending questioning and pondering. From the beginning of the play, it is well established that Hamlet is a young man, whose metal has been tempered in the flames of struggles and hardships, and that, much like Sisyphus, he is condemned to face more difficulties in his journey through life. The prince’s famous “to be or not to be" soliloquy is the speech which brings to completion his two former speeches of Acts One and Two, through his anger, passion, and ultimately, his
Hamlets contemplation of ending his life shows an inward conflict within himself. In his first soliloquy, he debates whether he should commit suicide. "To be, or not to be- / that is the question: / whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer/ the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end them" (3.1. lines 64-68 Shakespeare). He questions why he should live with all of this chaos but overcomes this internal conflict because he acknowledges that in his religion suicide is a sin. “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, / or that the everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst (self-slaughter). O God! God!” (1.2. lines 133-136 Shakespeare). This soliloquy signifies the reality of Hamlet s internal conflict and also shows the reality of his external conflict with the society he is surrounded by. This declamation establishes
“To be or not to be— that is the question.” An exceptionally recognized phrase amid many centuries, cultures, places, and people. This short excerpt derives from the Shakespearean play, Hamlet: The Tragedy of the Prince of Denmark. Originally, this passage was displayed in one of the soliloquies of the play. Defined as “an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play”, a soliloquy is crucial to furthering the plot and connecting the audience with the speaker. William Shakespeare reveals the true desires and intentions of Hamlet, the main character of Hamlet: The Tragedy of the Prince of Denmark, within the protagonist’s soliloquies. Even Hamlet, one of the most complex characters in literary history, can be simplified through the use of a soliloquy.
It is clear that the death of his father and his mother 's remarriage has taken an enormous mental toll on him and that he desires death to free himself of the burden laid upon him by the ghost. He romanticizes it, saying that suicide is the brave and courageous option akin to “[taking] arms” against troubles. However, he can’t commit to the idea of death, saying “To sleep, perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub / For in that sleep of death what dreams may come” (III, i, 66-67). He craves death, which would allow him to escape all the “natural shock / that flesh is heir to” (III, i, 63-64) but the more he ponders it, the further he is from reaching a decision. Ironically, the argument within his mind about how he should free himself of the ghostly burden — murder, or death — is impeding him from carrying out any action on it. At the end of his most famous soliloquy, Hamlet hasn’t made any decisive choice and therefore is in limbo regarding death due to his overarching rationale. His inaction proves “[his] endless reasoning and hesitation and the way in which the energy of his resolutions evaporates in self-reproaches” (Morgan 259). Moreover, Hamlet tackles the decision of interpreting what is real and what is false when he questions the ghost’s true nature. At first, Hamlet is certain
Not only this, but Hamlet makes it clear that he would willingly give up his life at that point. This reinforces the idea that the Prince considers death a release; the solution to all of his troubles. At this point, it is clear to the audience that Hamlet regards death in a positive, almost welcoming manner. In his eyes, it will restore the natural order of things to their predetermined equilibrium. One of the most famous lines of the play, and probably in all of English literature, is from Hamlet’s third soliloquy. "To be, or not to be: that is the question,” Hamlet asks himself, before launching into a full-blown internal clash over life and death. He considers suicide; it would offer him release from everything wrong in his life. However, he is finally scared of death. He doesn’t know whether God will accept him, or even what awaits him in the world beyond his own. Despite the fear of death displayed by many characters in this play, Hamlet still provides a calmly accepting, even welcoming view of death.
In a following speech Hamlet’s disposition towards the world persists, yet his attitude towards death has undergone a transformation. Previously, Hamlet was quick to proclaim his desire to die, but by the third act he’s become uncertain. This hesitation becomes apparent in Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech (3.1.56-90). With those opening words, Hamlet debates whether he should exist or not. The fact that this is still a question for him shows that he continues to be displeased with life. Hamlet asks himself, “Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them? To die to sleep.” This reveals a new concern that Hamlet has, he doesn’t ask what is best for him to do, but rather what is nobler, which makes it apparent that he’s concerned with maintaining his character. Even though he maintains the desire to escape the world and the experience in it, he still cares about the image that he leaves behind. Subsequently, Hamlet uses war-like diction, comparing life to war with “slings and arrows” which makes life intolerable. This just reaffirms the ideas Hamlet has had throughout the play, however, a shift transpires when he mulls over the idea that death is like being asleep. A problem arises when he realizes that even when you sleep you experience, “To sleep; perchance to dream: Ay, there’s the rub.” This could be easily misinterpreted as Hamlet hoping to dream, but perchance
Hamlet is asking himself if it would be easier to endure a never-ending sleep, or to suffer; he asks who would tolerate the whips and scorns of time, the oppressor's wrong against us, the disrespect of proud men, the pain of rejected love, the proudness of authorities, and the advantage that the worst people take of the best when one could just release himself with a blade? Hamlet wonders who would carry this load, sweating and grunting under the burden of life if one did not have to dread of the after life. By Hamlet's in-depth thoughts of suicide, it is apparent that Hamlet is depressed and does not enjoy his life. "Repetition of words such as calamity, scorns, oppressor, despised, dread and weary emphasize the mental trauma he is portraying ("Passage analysis of Hamlet")." "Hamlet's speech contains obsessive concerns with suicide and death. His representation of himself as mentally unstable is an attempt to accomplish his super-objective of avoiding
“To be, or not to be: That is the question”(3.1.58). This is probably the most famous quote in all of Shakespearean literature and was uttered by the main character, Hamlet, of the play “Hamlet” written by Shakespeare. It demonstrates his instability and suicidal thoughts. Throughout the play he comes off as a very unpredictable and complex character. He makes many rash decisions, but at the same time often takes a lot of time to contemplate many of his choices. Through Hamlet’s language and voice, we can examine what type of character Shakespeare created. Hamlet acts differently towards people in contrast to his actual thoughts, which are projected through his soliloquies. Due to the insanity
Hamlet was distraught after he found out that is father had been killed by his uncle and then to learn that his uncle shortly thereafter married his mother was seemingly unbearable. Hamlet had a conversation with himself as to the pros and cons of continuing his life. This is the conversation that he had himself while he waited for his plan unfold. A suicidal death were his thoughts because of the deep frustration regarding the situation. My opinion of this Soliloquy is a two-part question that Hamlet was considering. Initially, he was considering taking his life. This was essential because of the fact that his uncle had taken his father’s life and within 30 days of his father’s death, his uncle and his mother are married. Secondly, he contemplated getting revenge against his father’s death. This was beginning to be too much for a young prince to handle so he figured some rest and sleep would shield and him from the life that was less than perfect life that he was living. In his thoughts, he felt as if he would sleep and dream that is his pain and misery of his reality would end. Every thought of every day was miserable and painful. Each memory brought sorrow and anger, therefore, he wanted to sleep in hopes of the reality of life taking a pause. Hamlet’s reality was too much for him to bear. While his body slept it seemed that that he would be safe from the oppressive faults of