2007-03-07 13:12:31 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
The point is the quote, is it better to be, or not to be? I am assuming there are some people that do not understand what shakespeare was referring to when he said this.
2007-03-07 13:22:32 · update #1
Come on, folks. This is one of the easiest of Shakespeare's famous soliloquies.
Hamlet is trying to decide whether or not to commit suicide. If you look at the whole soliloquy, he's saying that he's suffering in this world ("the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune") but he's afraid that he might suffer even more if he killed himself because he would be damned to hell.
So he decides to do nothing, which is consistent with his behavior throughout much of the play.
2007-03-07 14:17:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to inturet the meaning yourself, great scholors have surmised what shakespeare meant when he wrote it, but as with all great writers they leave the meaning individual to the reader - so ther eis no one correct answer, I believe that he is asking the world whether we as a race are better here on this planet in this reality or would we be better off exstinct of that this reality doesnt actually exist as we are a cocnation of collective thought form one higher power of consious.
2007-03-07 13:38:06 · answer #2 · answered by kissaled 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Hamlet said this famous quote (at which time he did NOThave a skull), he was contemplating whether it would be best to be [alive] or not to be [alive] because he could see all these crazy things going on, like his uncle killing his father and marrying his sister-in-law, etc., and he was basically depressed. He was thinking about suicide and whether or not he would suffer less if he were dead.
2007-03-07 14:19:40 · answer #3 · answered by sangogirl8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer the former since there is no reliable information on the latter. Call me if you learn anything new...
2007-03-07 13:16:59 · answer #4 · answered by jdinkorea 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shakespeare
2007-03-07 13:16:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
but the question that follows is "to be what?" with out the answer to this, the first is pointless
peace
2007-03-07 13:23:22 · answer #6 · answered by Shadow Lark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey Mathew! Are you or aren't you? To be "lazy" or not to be "lazy" that is the question? What's your point?
2007-03-07 13:18:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hamlet
2007-03-07 13:19:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it?
2007-03-07 13:15:05 · answer #9 · answered by Mary 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i want to be!
2007-03-07 13:19:54 · answer #10 · answered by cyndi b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋