To be or not to be? Whas he really asking that or was it part of his illusion?

Answer 1

That's a difficult question to answer. I was going to say that "To be or not to be" was part of a soliloquy, but, on review, Ophelia was in the room during this speech. Hamlet could have still been suicidal at this point and surprised by Ophelia, or he could have been acting this way as a part of his illusion to Ophelia. I personally think that he was pulling into his feelings from Act I, like an actor would, to play the part of one suicidal and without purpose. This would belie his new purpose: killing his Uncle and stepfather.

Answer 2

It's actually a reasonable question...but one that doesn't have an answer, outside of the context of production.

You see, if you conceive this moment in the play as a pure SOLILOQUY (that is, if Hamlet really and truly believes himself to be ALONE onstage), then the only plausible interpretation is that he's "really asking." IF, however, you want to stage the scene such that Hamlet is aware that Claudius and Polonius are observing him -- and that they're sending Ophelia to him as their "spy" -- then there's no reason why he couldn't be play-acting the whole suicidal contemplation for their benefit...and to serve his own ends.

Answer 3

Life is just a hassle. "To be" is to deal with conflict, to step into the fray of unknown consequences."Not to be" is to dropout and vacate from life whether by suicide or some other means.

Answer 4

If you read or listen to the entire speech, it will become clear that he is pondering suicide. He says "to sleep, perchance to dream." The "sleep" he is speaking of is death. He is weighing the pros and cons.

Answer 5

To be or not to be? That means, should I live or should I die?

Answer 6

suicide or not