Analysis Of To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy

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Recommended: How is morality presented in Hamlet

It has been said that the “To be or not to be” soliloquy gives us a picture of Hamlet the scholar, the intellectual, pondering a problem of moral philosophy. Discuss.

Oftentimes, holding societal values and ideals about religion creates ambiguity which prompts an individual to encounter an internal struggle of either taking action to restore honor and certainty, or be stagnant and not act upon it because of the fear of the unknown. In the play, Hamlet, “To be or not to be” soliloquy exemplifies Hamlet’s contemplation of committing suicide, the calamity he faced, finding out his father was murdered by his uncle, Claudius and his mother, Gertrude committing incest inflicted Hamlet’s sorrowful and vengeful nature. Hamlet being a Protestant is aware that suicide and commiting murder is a mortal sin and that the church teachings state that justice would be in the hands of God and one should allow the universe to take its own course of action and punish individuals who engage in …show more content…

However, Hamlet does not act hastily, his intellectual qualities are displayed when he gingerly conceives a plan to witness Claudius confessing for the death of his father. Hamlet unlike Macbeth does not allow supernatural beings to deceive him, Hamlet is not clouded by what he wants to hear, but seeks the truth. If Hamlet witnesses Claudius confessing to his guilty conscience Hamlet will not hesitate and he will assassinate whoever is responsible for the death of his father. Hamlet’s moral philosophy is gradually deteriorating, as he no longer believes that justice should be in the hand’s of god or the universe. He finds a new sense of purpose in life that he must intervene to discover the truth of his father’s death, where his mentality finds nothing left to question and evoke motivation to undertake revenge in order to restore honor and

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