The Benefits Of Suicide In Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'

Question #2 After Laertes leaves to board a ship to France, Polonius confronted Ophelia about Hamlet giving private time to Ophelia. Ophelia explains to her father, Polonius, about the affections Hamlet has shown to her, quoting, “He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders of his affection to me.” Polonius tells Ophelia she talks like a “green girl” who doesn’t understand and to think of herself as a baby for taken affections of Hamlet seriously. Then, Ophelia speaks to Polonius again, “My lord, he hath importuned me with love in honorable fashion. . . . And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven.” Polonius warns her daughter that

Hamlet questions if it is honorable, or “nobler”, to put up with the negative qualities of life or end the troubles of life for good. Hamlet argues the advantages of suicide by comparing dying to sleeping and, quoting, “To die, to sleep—no more; and by a sleep to say we end the heartache, and the thousand shocks that flesh is heir to.” Then, Hamlet realizes that there is a catch, that the dreams of death is something to think about, stating, “For in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this moral coil must give us pause.” Hamlet also questions who would put up and go through “the whips and scorns of time.” Such examples of these “whips and scorns” are “the oppressor’s wrong,” “the proud man’s contumely,” and, “the pangs of despised love.” Also, Hamlet questions who would choose “to grunt and sweat” through a tiring and exhausting life. Hamlet also acknowledges the fear of death, particularly, after death, saying, “But that the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler return.” Then Hamlet discusses how people wonder about after death but are too scared and stick with the “evils” people know rather than finding out what people do not know and how the fear of death makes everyone cowards and they’re boldness becoming weak without thinking, as Hamlet continues, “puzzles the will, and makes us rather bear

At this moment, Hamlet discovers the truth, that how his father, King Hamlet, really died. “’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark is by a forgèd process of my death rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown.” Hamlet was in shock to hear this news and he continued to listen to what else his father had to say. As the night came to a close, King Hamlet addressed Hamlet to not to corrupt his mind or to hurt his mother and King Hamlet departed, telling, “Remember me.” Then, Hamlet rants, “Remember thee? Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat in this distracting globe. Remember thee. Yea, from the table of my memory I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past that youth and observation copied there, and thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain.” In translation, the meaning of Hamlet’s rant is he will remember his father’s commandment while he has the power of memory in his distracted head. Also, Hamlet will wipe away all his trivial, foolish information or memory and only preserve his father’s commandment in his head. Hamlet is distraught and angry at his murderous uncle, Claudius, and Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. Hamlet wants to avenge his father and make Claudius pay for the sins he has committed.