Don't Be Hamlet

“To be or not to be that is the question:” This is arguably one of the most famous Shakespearian quotes of all time.  But what is his soliloquy really saying?  Hamlet is torn on what he should do with himself, to live and face his troubles or take a cowards way out by ending his life.   In the end he chooses to live but not for any moral reasons but out of fear.  Although Hamlet chose what many would say was the right choice, he did not make this decision with dignity.

Hamlet’s soliloquy is his way of talking through his problems.  “Weather ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer… Or take arms against a sea of troubles and, by opposing, end them.”  He is talking about his life and if he should be the noble prince as expected of him or end his life.  He has enormous problems in his life, his beloved father passed away and his mother remarried to his uncle less then a month later.  Also, Hamlet feels as if his suspicion that his uncle murdered his father has been confirmed by what he believes to be the ghost of his father.  Overwhelmed by all the drama in his life, Hamlet is willing to do almost anything to make it go away.

Hamlet seriously considers killing himself because all of his problems.  But what, may I ask, would the world be like if everyone with, what seems to them like, a major problem killed themselves? The human race would cease to exist.  Just because you’re going through a rough patch doesn’t mean things should be ended.  It’s standing up against all the horrors of the world that makes people truly stronger.  Hamlet needs to learn this to be able to see past all the obstacles in his life so he can see the light at the end of the tunnel and have a reason to live that he is aware of.

In the end Hamlet decides against killing himself but he doesn’t do it for the right reasons.  Hamlet fears what death will bring with it, “For in that sleep of death what dreams may come”.  He is a coward, fearing death is normal for many people.  But choosing to stay alive, not because all the things you have to live for, but so you don’t have to deal with what may be to come is rather pathetic.  He lives in fear with a life full of conflicts; he seems to be too weak to fully enjoy the beauty of what his life could be.

 Although, Hamlet chooses the noble side of his dilemma, it is not for any gallant reason.  He is frightened of his life and doesn’t know quite what to do with it.  Live in pain and suffer because he feels he might be better off not living at all, or take a chance with death and maybe with is will come a silent salvation.  But if he is wrong there is no backing out once its over it’s over.  He chooses not to end his life but, with the way he lives, when the ending comes it will not be a happy one.