Hamlet – A breakdown of ‘To be or not to be’

Topic

Hamlet – A breakdown of ‘To be or not to be’

Instructions

In Hamlet, what is the meaning of the line “To be or not to be” (3.1.57) in the context of the play?

Answer preview

To be or not to be is one of the passages in western literature from Hamlet by William Shakespeare. In this line the individual struggle, questioning on worthiness of life and death faced by hamlet is brought to light. To be or not to be is mostly viewed as a depiction of tragic sorrow. The circumstance in which the soliloquy is revealed conveys the ironic phase of philosophy and the dramatic representation of life itself. He devises to put up an imagery of the philosophical aspects of life.

Word count: 343