(Don't) Be Hamlet

Hamlet’s dilemma is not one that I or anyone else I know is to familiar of. He has a huge problem ahead of him and recites a soliloquy talking about his problems. The issues he faces include suicide and murder, life and death. Hamlet has a problem with over thinking and I can see why with the problems he has.

In the speech, Hamlet considers suicide. His character is clearly shown in this speech. The speech itself shows that he thinks too much. He is wavering between the two extremes: life and death. "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them". He wonders whether he should live and suffer or die and end the suffering. He believes that life is just him suffering. The "whips and scorn of time, Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of disprized love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th'unworthy takes" are all the suffering he sees in life. He contemplates whether or not he should endure these pains of life. "To die, to sleep -no more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks...To sleep, perchance to dream". If he chooses death all his pains and heartaches would end. He would not have to worry about Claudius, Gertrude or any other aspect of his life that bothers or causes him stress.

The only thing keeping him from death is what is after it. The "dread of something after death, The undiscovered country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will" and keeps people from choosing death due to the fear of what lies after death. His entire monologue compares the two extremes: life and death. He analyzes both situations and thinks over it too much. This occurs not only in this speech, but also later in the play.

In the soliloquy, "To Be or Not To Be," Hamlet shows his character to be confused, unsteady, and an over thinker. He shows this by his attitude towards life and death. How he compares the two and analyzes them both shows that he over analyzes everything that he does. His character is not only shown in this monologue, but in other parts of the play too. If I were there to help him choose, I would convince him to kill his father. It is a perfect situation because commiting a deed such as killing the king would certainly be similar to suicide since he would be killed for it. He would get everything he wants. His troubles would be over and he could finally sleep (die) without worrying about his problems.