To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more!!
2007-03-15 09:42:47 · 8 answers · asked by Kitty 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Hamlet's monologue is all about whether or not he should commit suicide. So he's saying that he has two choices - to suffer everything that 'fortune' (or fate, or life) has thrown at him, or to 'take arms against' his problems, get rid of all of them by ending his life.
He goes on to talk about whether or not dying is really the best option because he knows what he faces in life, but he doesn't know what he'll face in death.
For more analysis, try these:
http://shakespeare.about.com/od/studentresources/a/tobeornot.htm
http://www.hamlethaven.com/tobe.html
http://www.monologuearchive.com/s/shakespeare_001.html
http://www.bardweb.net/content/readings/hamlet/lines.html
2007-03-15 09:52:12 · answer #1 · answered by bookie04 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a quote from the play Hamlet, by William Shakespear. It is probably the most famous and most quoted part of the play. It is a speech, a sililoquy given my Hamlet as he comtemplates suicide. He is trying to decide if he should just give up, or is he should continue on and put an end to the trouble that have come about since his father's death.
To die: to sleep; no more!
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we've shuffl'd off this mortal coil
Must give us pause.
2007-03-16 08:00:20 · answer #2 · answered by kveldulf_gondlir 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're kidding, right? This is Shakespeare's Hamlet speaking a monolog, and I, Hamletta, say to you, to go thou and read the darn play or at least the clift notes and sling your mind out there into a sea of ideas, to be outragously sleepy and perchance to dream yourself an answer. No more!
2007-03-15 16:52:05 · answer #3 · answered by goodpoet 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet. The basic meaning this quote is whether to keep on living and deal with all the hardships that life has to give or just to say the heck with it all and kill himself.
2007-03-15 16:53:35 · answer #4 · answered by Lookin-2-Talk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is gonna sound like ducking it but, I think it's pretty self explanatory. Commitment. Decision on a course of action. Nobility of mind and spirit and facing the life issues and all that is attendant in them.
2007-03-15 17:04:08 · answer #5 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means life is tough; we have little control over our destinies; is it foolish to strive for meaning and honor, only to die never having the BIG question answered - Is there a deeper meaning to life?
2007-03-15 16:53:42 · answer #6 · answered by Miz Teri 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is asking what you want to do. YES or NO.
2007-03-15 17:38:25 · answer #7 · answered by Lightning Striker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means, "Should I kill myself, or not?"
2007-03-15 17:49:18 · answer #8 · answered by Todd W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋