Soliloquy analysis "To be or not to be" (Act 3 scene 1)

Soliloquy analysis "To be or not to be" (Act 3 scene 1)

Decide whether the passage presents Hamlet as sane or mad. Explain and support your opinion.

Is Hamlet mad?

He is also contemplating putting an end to all of this by potentially risking his life. I wouldn’t consider this sanity because it is not logical for Hamlet to take this action. Based on what he has just heard and the anger that he has just created toward Claudius.

This passage presents Hamlet as mad as he is left questioning his sanity. By asking the question of to be or not to be. In this soliloquy, we can see that he is not sane as he is questioning his existence and how depressed he is because of his father’s death and if it's worth even living anymore. Throughout the play, he tends to be able to control his anger to a certain extent. We know he is well-spoken and can easily put on an act. But this time we are seeing Hamlet's raw reaction and emotions appear. This is a different side of Hamlet as he is continuing to question his life and is scared of what may come next.

Is Hamlet sane?

What rhetorical devices and figurative language are used?

Metaphor, Hyperbole and Personification

In the line; ” The slings and arrow of outrageous fortune” (3.1.59), a metaphor and personification are used. A metaphor is used to compare slings and arrows to outrageous fortune, where Hamlet is telling us about the bad and unlucky things that occur to us in life are like attacks from this outrageous fortune which is personified.

Personification is used to portray time as capable of “whipping” and scorning people; “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time” (3.1.71).

In the line; “Or to take arms against a sea of troubles.” (3.1. 60), Hamlet uses a metaphor to compare his troubles to the sea, indicating that he has so many troubles/problems that they remind him of the sea. Hyperbole is also used in this line to exaggerate his amount of troubles or problems.

Rhetorical question, Alliteration

A rhetorical question and also alliteration is used in the line, “With a bare bodkin?” (3.1.77).

Parallel structure

Parallel structure is also used in the lines “Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep; / To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub” (3.1.65-66).

Anaphora, repetition

Repetition and anaphora are used in the line, “To die: to sleep:” (3.1.61) as it is repeated twice in his soliloquy. The repetition of this line is used to place more emphasis on it as it holds some significance relating to Hamlet's understanding of death which is sleep, an infinite amount of sleep.

An anaphora is also used to describe and emphasize the many horrors of life that will end because of death. “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, / The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, / The pang of despised love, the law’s delay, / The insolence of office, and the spurns / That patient merit of the unworthy takes” (3.1.71-75).

Who is the speaker?

Hamlet is the speaker

How does the language reveal Hamlet’s behaviour / character at this point in the play?

Hamlet’s use of language is very precise and expressive, through his words we can get a sense of how he is feeling at this point in this play. His language is very detailed so we get a sense of how he is feeling, and what is going on in his mind. Through his use of language, he can describe how he is feeling very vividly and why he is feeling that way. He has endured so much pain leading up to this point that he is torn between whether or not he should continue to live or not. His use of language in this soliloquy shows that Hamlet is indecisive as he struggles to pick what he should do next. He is at the same time very intricate as he evaluates his life at this point, he can point out and questions whether or not it is worth living.

His use of language shows that he is also a very impulsive character, he talks a lot but has not taken any action in avenging his father. As a result of this inaction, it leads him to question his own life. His use of language also suggests that his behaviour is very eccentric which could be due to his madness. Overall his use of language reveals that he is a very indecisive person and is troubled by his madness. Also by observing the way he can dissect and evaluate his life at this moment we can see how intelligent and clever Hamlet is. We can see that he is also very impulsive due to his lack of effort in taking any action that he intended to take.

Hendiadys

"The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" (3.1.59) "The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks" (3.1.63) "To grunt and sweat under a weary life" (3.1.78)

Doubling

"To die, to sleep" (3.1.61) is repeated twice in the soliloquy.

What is the passage/scene is about?

He believes that death is like sleeping, putting a stop to this chaotic fever of life. But what dreams are kept for him in the comforting death rest? This thought makes him rethink and reconsider. As Hamlet is unaware of the unseen he believes it best to wait and see. In a way, his subconscious makes him restless in taking action.

To be or not to be one of the most memorable lines in all of modern literature. Hamlet is questioning whether it’s worth it to live or die. It means that he cannot decide what is better, ending all the sufferings of life by death, or bearing the mental burdens silently. He is in such grief that it seems death is more rewarding than all the things happening with him for the turn of fortune.

What themes, motifs, and symbols are evident throughout the passage?

Symbolism of the mirror

Revenge, Madness, Death and Doubt and Uncertainty

He wonders about his purpose and his life. Whether it will be better to allow himself to be tormented by all the wrongdoings he considers to be 'outrageous fortune bestowed upon him, or to arm himself and fight against them, putting an end to them. One of the main motifs in this soliloquy is death because he is also grieving his father's death at this time in the play as well as wondering if it is better to be alive or dead. “To be or not to be? That is the question” (3.1.57).

Some themes that are present throughout the passage include revenge, madness and doubt and uncertainty. Throughout this soliloquy, Hamlet thinks about whether he should face life's hardships head-on or end them by dying. Hamlet is plagued by indecisiveness which leads him to decide whether or not to take any more action.