Will you help me interpret Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy?

Question

so for a class we have to interpret it. our teacher thinks that since we are an "honors class "
she can assign us projects with little instruction. there is no specified length. so 2 sentences? sure. i just don't get shakespeare at all. i dont understand why we can't just read 1984 or Catcher like everyone else. we've had to read confusing shakespeare for 3 years. i think we get it. but nooo.
anyways.
can you help bcuz shakespeare? he's too hard for me .

also with this teacher, "my interpretation" is not literally MY INTERPRETATION.
i had to do this on beowulf and wrote about how beowulf was really a mailman tripping on acid and i failed.
even though that was.. my interpretation..

Answer 1

To be = suffer
Not to be = suicide.

Draw a flow chart on it, as an alternative interpretation.

Answer 2

hamlet is thinking about suicide. he's questioning if he should 'be' around anymore or not. how would you feel if your father was murdered and your mother was fooling around with your uncle? hamlet is an interesting character. even though shakesphere is hard to get through, i think you will be glad you read him in the end.
and lay off the mail men on acid. that was rather funny though :)

Answer 3

Have you ever been in so much pain or trouble that you wondered whether your existance was worth it. Or did you forget?