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To be, or not to be. Comparison of the "To be, or not to be" speech in the first three editions of Hamlet, showing the varying quality of the text in the Bad Quarto, the Good Quarto and the First Folio. " To be, or not to be " is a speech given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare 's play Hamlet (Act 3, Scene 1).
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In Act 3, Scene 1, also known as the “nunnery scene,” of the tragedy, “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare(Bio | Poems), this monologue appears. Hamlet, torn between life and death, utters the words to the audiencerevealing what is happening inside his mind. It is a soliloquy because Hamlet does not express his thoughts to other characters. Rather he di...
“To be, or not to be” by William Shakespeare(Bio | Poems)describes how Hamlet is torn between life and death. His mental struggle to end the pangs of his life gets featured in this soliloquy. Hamlet’s soliloquy begins with the memorable line, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.” It means that he cannot decide what is better, ending all the ...
The full quotation is regarded as a soliloquy. Though in the plot, Ophelia is on stage pretending to read, Hamlet expresses his thoughts only to himself. He is unaware of the fact that Ophelia is already there. Being engrossed in his self-same musing, he clarifies his thoughts to himself first as he is going to take a tough decision. Therefore, thi...
The first line of the speech, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” contains two literary devices. These are antithesis and aporia. The following lines also contain aporia. Readers come across a metaphor in, “The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” This line also contains a personification. Another device is embedded in the line. After ...
Line 1
The first line of Hamlet’s soliloquy, “To be, or nor to be” is one of the best-known quotes from all the Shakespearean works combined. In the play, “Hamlet” the tragic heroexpresses this soliloquy to the audience in Act 3, Scene 1. As the plots reflect, Hamlet is facing an existential crisis after coming across the harsh reality of his father’s death and his mother’s subsequent marriage with his uncle, Claudius, the murderer of King Hamlet. Everything was happening so quickly that it was diff...
Lines 2–5
From these lines, it becomes clear what questions are troubling the tragic hero, Hamlet. He is asking just a simple question. Readers should not take this question at its surface value. They have to understand what is going on in his mind. He asks whether a noble mind like him has to suffer the metaphorical“slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” In this phrase, Shakespeare compares fortune to an archer who releases arrows and hurts Hamlet’s mind. The speaker talks about the events happenin...
Lines 5–9
In this section of the soliloquy, “To be, or not to be”Hamlet’s utterings reflect a sense of longing for death. According to him, dying is like sleeping. Through this sleep that will help him to end the mental sufferings, he can get a final relief. The phrase, “No more” emphasizes how much he longs for this eternal sleep. This path seems more relieving for Hamlet. Why is it so? Hamlet has to undergo a lot of troubles to be free from the shackles of “outrageous fortune.” While if he dies, ther...
The text of “To be, or not to be” is taken from the Second Quarto (Q2) of the play, “Hamlet” which was published in 1604. It is considered the earliest version of the play. William Shakespeare(Bio | Poems)wrote, “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,” best-known as only “Hamlet” sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is the longest play of Shakespe...
The quote, “To be, or not to be” is the most widely known line and overall Hamlet’s soliloquy has been referenced in several works of theatre, literature, and music. Let’s have a look at some of the works where the opening line of Hamlet’s soliloquy is mentioned. 1. The plot of the comedy, “To Be or Not to Be” by Ernst Lubitsch, is focused on Hamle...
Here is a list of some thought-provoking Shakespearean quotes that are similar to Hamlet’s soliloquy, ‘To be, or not to be”. Explore the greatest Shakespearean poetryand more works of William Shakespeare. 1. All the World’s A Stagefrom As You Like It – In this monologue, the speaker considers the nature of the world, the roles men and women play, a...
Explore the meaning and context of Hamlet's famous quote, "To be, or not to be, that is the question", from Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's tragedy. Learn about the literary devices, structure, and historical context of this soliloquy that expresses existential crisis.
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Learn the meaning and context of Hamlet's famous speech on life and death, with a modern translation and full explanation. Explore the themes, language and performances of this Shakespearean masterpiece.
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
Read the famous soliloquy from Hamlet, where the prince ponders the meaning of life and death. Explore the themes of fate, free will, and existential crisis in this classic passage.
To be, or not to be, opening line of a monologue spoken by the character Hamlet in Act III, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy Hamlet (c. 1599–1601). Often referred to as a soliloquy, the speech technically does not meet that term’s strictest definition—that is, a monologue delivered by an actor alone onstage—because Ophelia, the object of Hamlet’s fickle affections ...
Learn about the famous "To be or not to be" speech from Shakespeare's Hamlet, which explores life, death, and suicide. Find out the full text, meaning, inspiration, and critical themes of this soliloquy.
