To Be or Not to Be Characteizes Hamlet

A detailed Summary of To Be or Not to Be Characteizes Hamlet

Hamlet's classsic "To be or not to be..."(Hamlet, prince of Denmark, 3.1.57) speech really shows who he is. Obviously Hamlet is horribly depressed. We have already seen several examples of this, but this speech gives us a clear picture of his sadness. More importantly however, his speech shows his weakness and indecisiveness. Hamlet is consistently melancholy, but he never really acts on it; he just kind of wallows around, full of self-pity and loathing. Finally, it gives us Hamlet's reason for not committing suicide. Throughout the play he seems to wish for death and here we find out why he doesn't bring it on himself. This also gives us a window into his personality. This speech provides us with a clear understanding of Hamlet and his motivations.

Hamlet is seriously in need of some Prozac. He says in this speech, flat out: "To die, to sleep-..'Tis a consumation devoutly to be wished."(3.1.69-72). He feels that his troubles and his heartache are to to much to deal with. While this speech is not the first time he has mentioned suicide, it does give the clearest picture of just how far gone he is. He seems to be weary of life, as he cons

Hamlet's motivation for wanting to die and also for remaining alive gives some of the best insight into his personality. In this speech Hamlet elects not to kill himself and discovers why he has not yet done it. Hamlet is a very seriously disturbed, depressed guy. He says clearly that he is in great pain but more than that he is weary of his life and that is why he wants to die. He has grown tired of the day to day struggle to survive and that, not his problems themselves is why he desires death. His reason for choosing life over death is also shown here. He is too afraid of the unknown, of the "undiscovered country" (3.1.80) to act on his desire. Perhaps this second reason is a result of the first? It is not so much that he is afraid to act, just that he has become so despondant that he doesn't really care enough to do anything.

More interestingly, Hamlet shows here his fundamental cowardice and fear. He has been going on for the whole play about how terrible his life is and how much pain and suffering he has had to endure, and he starts out the speech on this note. This is the first indication of his weakness. Hamlet it seems would r

Some common words found in the essay are:
Finally Hamlet's, Obviously Hamlet, , personality speech, act desire, weary life, hamlet seriously,

Approximate Word count = 773
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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