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What is Hamlet arguing about in To be or not to be?
In the 'To be or not be to' soliloquy Shakespeare has his Hamlet character speak theses famous lines. Hamlet is wondering whether he should continue to be, meaning to exist or remain alive, or to not exist – in other words, commit suicide. His thoughts about that develop in the rest of the soliloquy.
What is Hamlet's dilemma?
This dilemma is whether or not he should murder his uncle to revenge his father's death. In Act 1 Scene 5, Hamlet comes face to face with the ghost of his father, who is doomed to suffer eternal damnation unless his sins are purged; yet this can only occur through the revenge of his own death.
What was the major reason for Hamlet's dilemma?
A major reason for Hamlet's dilemma is that he... knows his mother would be sad to learn the truth. likes Claudius. does not want to become king himself.
What is the message behind To be or not to be?
The soliloquy is essentially all about life and death: "To be or not to be" means "To live or not to live" (or "To live or to die"). Hamlet discusses how painful and miserable human life is, and how death (specifically suicide) would be preferable, would it not be for the fearful uncertainty of what comes after death.
What is Hamlet's fourth soliloquy about?
He questions a captain and learns that the Norwegians plan to wage war over a worthless patch of land in Poland. Hamlet lingers behind Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to reflect on the fact that these Norwegians and Poles are willing to die over land worth virtually nothing to anyone.
In what way has Hamlet's conscience made him a coward?
conscience doth make cowards of us all We can imagine our own death. In fact, Hamlet can imagine not only earthly possibilities, but also that his killing of Claudius might result in an eternity of hell if Claudius is not guilty and the ghost is trying to snare his soul with a lie.
What is Hamlet's intention in confronting his mother?
What is Hamlet's intention in confronting his mother and speaking "daggers" to her? loyalty to the king.
Which quotation best reveals Hamlet's attitude?
The audience knows that Laertes is planning to kill Hamlet. Which quotation best reveals Hamlet's attitude toward possible death as he prepares for the duel with Laertes? "Since no man of aught he leaves knows, what is 't to leave betimes? Let be."
What does Hamlet feel about himself?
Hamlet's impetuous desire to take his own life is only an impassioned reaction to the heavy burden of revenge that his father's murder has placed upon him. His greater struggle, and the focus of Hamlet itself, involves the questioning of the purpose and meaning of a life well-lived.
Did Hamlet end his life or not?
Then both Laertes and Hamlet are wounded by the poisoned blade, and Laertes dies. Hamlet, in his death throes, kills Claudius. Hamlet dies, leaving only his friend Horatio to explain the truth to the new king, Fortinbras, as he returns in victory from the Polish wars.
Why is Hamlet holding a skull?
Hamlet holding the skull represents the duality of life and death. Hamlet symbolizing life, the skull in his hand portraying death. It is just a hand's distance between them!
What is Claudius dilemma?
Claudius is clear and frank about his situation. His confession is comprehensive and unflinching: he confirms the essence of the Ghost's account, identifies his own tragic weakness: mine own ambition (line 55), yet is unable to repent.
What reasons does Girard use to support his claim?
Girard claims that by resisting the social impetus that demands revenge and perpetuates violence, Hamlet reveals Shakespeare's own revulsion toward revenge theatre. He cites examples of models that represent how all remain trapped in an inescapable cycle.
Why does Laertes return from abroad?
Laertes returns because of his father's death. He wants to find out if Claudius orchestrated his father's death.
Why is Hamlet indecisive?
Although there is something very comedic about Hamlet’s indecisiveness, it can be argued that the reason Hamlet is indecisive is because he is a noble scholar. He is cautious and stops to think before acting on anything. Therefore, Hamlet’s indecisiveness stems from the fact that he does not want to give in to being impulsive and driven by enraged emotions. He wants proof for his actions, which is ironic because the more he thinks, the less he does.
Why does Hamlet not want to kill Claudius?
After Claudius showcased his guilt, Hamlet has no reason not to act now. He has is proof that he was looking for all along- guilt from Claudius that he committed murder. However, Hamlet passed up his most obvious opportunity to kill Claudius when he was praying with his back turned. Hamlet passes this opportunity by convincing himself that he does not want Claudius’s soul to enjoy the pleasures of heaven. He is yet again reinventing another reason to not kill. Maybe internally, Hamlet does not want to stoop to Claudius’s level and subconsciously does not want to make a sinner of himself. Therefore, he is masking that by continuously passing up opportunities to kill Claudius.
What does Hamlet wonder about the ghost?
As Hamlet overthinks and second guesses everything, he begins to wonder if the ghost was really a demon trying to trick him into committing murder and kill Claudius without just cause. Hamlet’s hesitance in killing his uncle Claudius is also showcased through the play in many instances.
Why does Hamlet want to confirm his suspicions about Claudius?
Because of his doubts , Hamlet wants to confirm his suspicions about Claudius. For example: Hamlet’s hesitance in killing his uncle Claudius is showcased when he reenacts the murder of his father in the play called “Mousetrap”. The plays purpose is to stage the killing of Hamlet’s father, and he does so to elicit a reaction from Claudius that can prove that he is in fact guilty.
Why is Ophelia heartbroken?
She is obviously depressed by Hamlet’s disregard for her feelings and her depression worsens as she learns that Hamlet has killed her father, driving her to madness. Polonius’s death has obviously taken its toll on Ophelia and her death was triggered by her mental breakdown- this being another example of how Hamlets obsession has not only caused him to be dismissive of Ophelia’s feelings, but also causing her to kill herself!
What is Hamlet's conscience?
Hamlet’s conscience represents his obligation to embrace his duty as the king’s son and the resolve to avoid any regrets that he may endure if he did the wrong thing. There is no doubt that killing someone is an immoral act and Hamlet is not a murderer. Murdering someone is easier said than done. His hesitancy in killing his uncle Claudius showcases that murder goes against his natural instinct, therefore he justifies the delay as his own judgement of conduct. He wants to condemn Claudius for his wrongdoing. But I believe he is conflicted because he knows “there is no merit in paybacks and fighting wrong with wrong” (Thind).
Why is Shakespeare's soliloquy important?
So he does neither! Therefore, I believe Shakespeare’s use of soliloquy is particularly important because it describes Hamlet’s inner dilemma and showcases the struggles of the mind eloquently.
What is Prince Hamlet's dilemma?
Prince Hamlet's dilemma concerns his difficult decision to avenge his father's death by murdering his uncle, King Claudius. Toward the beginning of the play, Hamlet is visited by his father's ghost, and King Hamlet explains how Claudius poisoned him in the orchard and instructs Hamlet to avenge his death. Initially, Hamlet vows to avenge his father ...
What is the dilemma Hamlet faces?
The main dilemma that Hamlet faces if of deciding what to do. His father, the king, is dead. His mother is remarried to his father's brother. A specter that appears to be his father's ghost has told him that this same brother, Hamlet's uncle Claudius, is the one who killed him.
Why is Hamlet honor bound?
Hamlet is honor-bound to avenge the murder of King Hamlet.
Why does Hamlet refrain from killing his uncle?
Hamlet refrains from killing his uncle because he does not want Claudius's spirit to ascend to heaven. Hamlet's hesitation, indecision, and reluctance to avenge his father's death leads to the tragic outcome of the play when the entire royal family is murdered during a fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes.
What is Hamlet's religious faith?
Hamlet’s religious faith, however, makes his course of action anything but clear, since it forbids murder. Ensnared by his social position, the demands of his conscience, the demands of society, the canons of his faith, and his own thirst for justice, Hamlet is trapped.
Does Hamlet let Claudius escape justice?
Hamlet cannot let Claudius escape justice, but he will not act decisively, choosing instead to pursue various clever schemes through which he convinces himself for a while that he is moving toward a solution. Ultimately, Hamlet’s dilemma is resolved, but its resolution is not the consequence of careful thought or personal introspection.
Is it wrong to let Claudius live?
To let Claudius live is morally wrong, but to kill him is morally wrong, too, and a threat to Hamlet’s own soul. Consequently, Hamlet thinks rather than acts, torturing himself with memories of his beloved father and thoughts of his mother’s incestuous marriage to Claudius.
What is the role of doubt in Hamlet's "To be or not to be"?
Doubt and uncertainty play a huge role in Hamlet’s "To be or not to be" soliloquy. By this point in the play, we know that Hamlet has struggled to decide whether he should kill Claudius and avenge his father’s death.
What is the theme of Hamlet?
The entirety of Hamlet can be said to revolve around the theme of madness and whether Hamlet has been feigning madness or has truly gone mad (or both). Though the idea of madness doesn’t necessarily come to the forefront of "To be or not to be," it still plays a crucial role in how Hamlet behaves in this scene.
How many lines are there in the soliloquy "To be or not to be"?
It is 35 lines long.
What is the "to be or not to be" soliloquy?
The "To be or not to be" soliloquy appears in Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In this scene, often called the "nunnery scene," Prince Hamlet thinks about life, death, and suicide.
What is Hamlet's fear of the afterlife?
It is this general feeling of doubt that also plagues his fears of the afterlife, which Hamlet speaks on at length in his "To be or not to be" soliloquy.
What is the first line of the soliloquy?
The first line and the most famous of the soliloquy raises the overarching question of the speech: "To be, or not to be," that is, "To live, or to die."
What is the metaphor used in Shakespeare's "To be or not to be"?
Shakespeare uses several metaphors in "To be or not to be," making it by far the most prominent literary device in the soliloquy. A metaphor is when a thing, person, place, or idea is compared to something else in non-literal terms, usually to create a poetic or rhetorical effect.
New Historicism Approach
- Hamlet’s speech is a feigned soliloquy, spoken to mislead other characters about his state of mind. When an already suspicious Hamlet arrives in the scene, he sees Ophelia and draws the conclusion that she has been enlisted in a conspiracy against him. He also sees an opportunity t…
Feminist Approach
- Hamlet is suspended between the masculine and feminine. The “To be or not to be” speech illuminates his tragic flaw—that he is unable to reconcile the mixed message he is receiving about gender and the lack of options available to him as a future monarch. His suicidal thoughts reflect a gender conflict. Dews, C.L. Barney. “Gender Tragedies.” Journal of Men’s Studies2 (1994): 253-…
Rhetorical Approach
- By analyzing “To be or not to be” in terms of its dramatic effect and poetic message, one can see the speech as part of the action, not apart from it. The poetics and rhetoric in Hamlet’s speech moves the plot and suspense along as it ties together universal poetic images of death and life. Newell, Alex. The Soliloquies in Hamlet: The Structural Design. Rutherford: Associated UP, 1991.
Psychological Approach
- Hamlet’s speech is a pause in his ‘antic face’ routine. It allows us to see the true Hamlet at this moment in the plot. Through the speech, he reveals to the audience that his previous odd behavior is coming from a deep personal conflict. It is only through resolving this conflict that he can rid himself of the lunatic attitude.
Heroic Approach
- In the “To be or not to be” speech, Hamlet is contemplating the validity of his father’s request for revenge. That is, “to be or not to be” the son his father expects. The living and dying represented in the speech, then, more appropriately refers to the deaths of old Hamlet and Claudius, not Hamlet himself.
The platonic Ideal
- To Plato, everything is immortal because it lives on in memory, copy, or reconstitution. Therefore, the human soul is eternal and a person cannot completely cease to be. So, when Hamlet is debating whether “To be or not to be,” he is trying to describe the move beyond materiality of the flesh that he is considering taking.
Aristotelian Approach
- Aristotle believed that one of the key elements in a drama was what he called “thought”—evidence that the protagonist contemplates a moral lesson. “‘Thought’ is found where something is probed to be or not to be, or a general maxim is enunciated” (Poetics). To Aristotle, characters must reveal a moral purpose and show what kind of things a man chooses or avoids…