Below you will find a few different versions of this soliloquy being performed. How might you perform this soliloquy?
Thursday, January 15, 2015
"To be or not to be..."
Tonight you will read the most famous soliloquy in Hamlet. As you read, I want you to contemplate why this soliloquy is so famous? What is Hamlet addressing in this soliloquy and why does it resonate with people today?
Below you will find a few different versions of this soliloquy being performed. How might you perform this soliloquy?
Below you will find a few different versions of this soliloquy being performed. How might you perform this soliloquy?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In Act 3, scene 1, the soliloquy that Hamlet recited made it obvious that he was spiraling down into darkness but there was still a side to him that wanted to stick it out and overcome his depression and thoughts about suicide. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he was more upset and frustrated. In his next soliloquy, he was more depressed and strongly considering suicide. Even though God teaches that suicide is a sin, this next soliloquy reveals how much lack of hope Hamlet has. “To be or not to be—that is the question:” (III, i, l 64). This question is extremely important because he is debating whether to live or not to live. He is questioning weather or not he should live to deal with everything that misfortune has brought upon him or if he should end all his pain. I think it is the most famous soliloquy because it shows where Hamlet’s madness is coming from and it also shows that he thinks deeply before he acts.
ReplyDeleteIn Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he was really depressed and he was considering committing suicide whether suicide is a sin. In his second soliloquy, he was in complete shock because he saw and talked to his dead father’s ghost. And he told Hamlet that Claudius killed his dad. Also, the ghost told Hamlet to revenge his father’s death. He couldn’t believe what he saw and what he heard. In his next, third, soliloquy, he is saying that he is lack of hope. “To be or not to be-that is the question:”. This soliloquy is really famous because it shows us Hamlet’s thoughts show differentiation, that he is mad. Because he is lack of hope, “to be or not to be” says that Hamlet still thinks about committing suicide because that sentence refers to the thought of Hamlet whether he should die or live.
ReplyDeleteI think Hamlet's soliloquy is the most famous one of all time because of the ingenious phrase "To be or not to be". This phrase demonstrates Shakespeare's skill with creating sentences that hint at different meanings. This phrase can be used in everyday language. Hamlet never states what he is saying but it is easy to imply the meaning "Should I commit suicide or should I live?" This is another moment when Hamlet debates whether he should commit suicide or if he should keep living. In debating this he questions the philosophical idea of suicide.
ReplyDeleteThis soliloquy is so significant to Hamlet because he is truly expressing his emotional feelings in way that he hasn’t quite done yet. Hamlet is opening up to the reader tremendously by showing his internal conflict that he is facing. He says, “The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles.” Hamlet is debating mentally wither it is worth it to “take arms against a sea of troubles” by this he means his it worth plotting and killing his uncle and dealing with the cover up and the possible fall out that would occur if something went wrong. This is a valid conflict for a young adult to face when debating wither he or she should murder someone. He knows that it is not morally right to take a mans life, although if his ghost visions are valid then he must take some sort of action to avenge hos fathers death and do what his dad would have wanted. Throughout the rest of the Sillioque we see more internal debating done by hamlet. It is clearly apparent that he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hamlet is an emotional wreck at this point, but he has to decide sooner or later whether he is “to be or not to be.” It is hard because either way he could be going against his own personal morals and values. This hard for any person to endure. As a reader I feel for Hamlet.
ReplyDeleteHamlet’s “To be, or not to be – that is the question:” soliloquy in Act 3 Scene 1 Line 65 is one of the famous soliloquies of all time. In the soliloquy, Hamlet is deciding whether he should take suicide or suffer and live. He specifically describes dying as sleeping and dreaming in line 72: “To die, to sleep – To sleep, perchance to dream.” By vividly describing Hamlet and his thought process, Shakespeare makes it much easier for the readers to comprehend Hamlet’s inner thoughts and sympathize with him. The soliloquy ends with Hamlet saying “Soft you now, The fair Ophelia.– Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered.” In this line, Shakespeare depicts Hamlet’s love for Ophelia, yet Hamlet is unable to express it and instead curses at her. As aforementioned, such character makes Hamlet more realistic and allows the audiences to thoroughly understand Hamlet. As a result, it is one of the most famous soliloquy.
ReplyDeleteIn this soliloquy Hamlet is addressing whether or not to kill his step father. He says "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of trouble". In this statement we can see that Hamlet in pondering whether to continue to live the awful fate his has been given or to revolt against his uncle and kill him. As he ponders the murder of his uncle his conscience starts to take over saying "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, and thus the native hue of resolution". Hamlet is saying here that he wants to murder his uncle but his conscience is keeping him from doing it.
ReplyDeleteI think what make soliloquy, “To be or not to be-… (3.1 64), “the most famous soliloquy in Hamlet is its accurate reflections on his problems he faces and on his state of mind.
ReplyDeleteIn this soliloquy he lists all problems he has in his mind and he is overwhelmed. His solution is whether to live with suffer or to end the problem by suicide, which he considers a death with fear. If he live, he will faces an unsuccessful in love, the crisis of his country. He will has a hard time since he could trust no one. If he suicide, he do not know about the state after death. Moreover, he might be labeled of a coward. The soliloquy deals with expectations of both himself and others. It reflects that so much he is carrying. It reflects a life dilemma. This soliloquy do an excellent job of dramatizing the play.
If I were to perform, I would consider the first video as an example, because of its good pace of speech and emotion on his face. The gap between each sentence, which seems like he is thinking, is need fulfil the performance so that it can reflect the reality that he need time to think what to do in order to get out of his despair.