2006-09-05 09:50:51 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Well, in Shakespearean terms, this is from Hamlet, and in his case, he's weighing whether it's worth it to go on living or if he should commit suicide. He goes on in this soliloquoy to say that we all go on living, despite how horrible life can be at times, because we fear the most what we do not know, and what comes after we die is the greatest mystery, therefore being the thing we fear the most. Is it better to exist in a world of suffering, or to simply accept oblivion, where neither pleasure nor pain nor even awareness is possible? That is the question.
In broader terms, it represents the choices we all make in life. Do we take action or let concerns about the outcome cause us to stand by and let fate choose? Hamlet also discusses this at the end of the soliloquoy, when he says, "Thus, conscience makes cowards of us all, and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, and enterprises of great pith and moment, with this regard their currents are turned awry and lose the name of action."
2006-09-05 10:02:54 · answer #1 · answered by theyuks 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hamlet is considered to be ShaKepeare's greatest dramatic work. The play revolves aound his father's murder;his mother, Gertrude;her new King, Claudius, and the love of the fragile , Ophelia. This woeful but wonderful play contains some of Shakespeare's most memorable solliloquies including Hamlet's To be or not to be. He was contemplating between suicide or the option to go on living.
In today's world the application of to be or not to be is different. I'd rather choose to be. That would indicate positive efforts , adventure, spontaniety, drive to be somebody,a triumph and victory. It's better to have loved than not to experience love at all. . Not to be is surrender and pessimism, no drive ,no concerted efforts and a sign of total defeat, desperation.
2006-09-05 17:12:49 · answer #2 · answered by rosieC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To be, or not to be = to live, or not to live
This particular line comes from a soliloquy in which Hamlet is contemplating the idea of suicide, it's pros and cons. He decides the main "con" -- the thing that stops most people from committing suicide -- is fear of the unknown because death is a final journey "from which no traveller returns", and therefore people decide it's better to stay in this life and deal with this life's problems than to send oneself off to another, perhaps more harsh, form of existence.
2006-09-05 16:59:53 · answer #3 · answered by caylinn1996 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's about choices since that's about all we do all day.
Be the person that answers this guy's questions, or not be that person. That is the question. I've answered (or chosen) that I will be the person that answer this guy's question.
2006-09-05 16:55:55 · answer #4 · answered by rod_j_clifton 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I never did like Shakespeare.
did I even spell that right???
2006-09-05 17:11:11 · answer #5 · answered by because 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because it's not good to be in the middle. you are either, in or out. either ,are or aren't. left or right. am or am not. hot or cold ......blah blah blah!!
you cannot be both that's just it !
2006-09-05 17:01:58 · answer #6 · answered by malak 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
to be one's true self
or to be someone else's perception of who one should be
2006-09-06 01:16:36 · answer #7 · answered by mochi.girl 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋