ipl-logo

Why Does Hamlet Struggle With Death

544 Words3 Pages

Hamlet’s internal struggle with life and death, whether he should continue living only to suffer or take charge by ending his miserable life causes him to question he decisions and become inactive.
Hamlet starts thinking to himself ” To be, or not to be? That is the question—
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?” (Shakespeare, 1.3. 57-60)
Hamlet is comparing going to sleep as dying and does not think it is a bad thing but then wonders what happens after death. Hamlet fears the unknown, he is depressed that his mother married his uncle and that his uncle killed his father. He wants to commit suicide but he does not know what the other side holds for him as he is afraid of the unknown and does not want to turn into a ghost like his father. Hamlet being afraid of the unknown causes him to become indecisive on whether he should actually commit suicide or continue to suffer by seeing his uncle who killed his father. Furthermore, Hamlet again starts to think about committing suicide after he has received a tongue lashing from Claudius and Gertrude and also being asked to remain in Denmark instead of continuing his studies. …show more content…

He is disgusted with his mother for marrying his uncle so quickly after his father’s death. Hamlet believes that suicide seems like a desirable alternative as opposed to living life in a painful world. One thing that is stopping him from committing suicide is his religion as it is forbidden. Committing suicide is a sin towards God and Hamlet believes that he will be sent to hell for committing such an unholy act. He also does not want to face the wrath of the everlasting. Due to his religion Hamlet can not decide whether he wants to commit suicide or remain alive. In addition, Hamlet thinks about committing suicide when he is talking to

Show More
Related

What Is Life Worth Amanda Ripley Analysis

457 Words | 2 Pages

He has a choice to make, so he has to decide if living is worth living and if it is how he will deal with the situation that he has. Hamlet was conflicted he didn 't understand the value of his life in that exact moment. In Hamlets soliloquy the was thinking about the pro and cons of wether to end his life or deal with the problem that his dead father brought to him. He was starting to come to a decision when he’s thoughts were interrupted. This soliloquy brought to light the peoples that most people go through or think about.

Read More

The Role Of Bargaining In Hamlet

282 Words | 2 Pages

To die- to sleep- No more; and by a sleep to say we end the heartache. ”(ACT III scene i) In this quote we see Hamlet debate his own life and consider whether dying would be better than to

Read More

Ethos Pathos And Logos In Hamlet's First Soliloquy

1766 Words | 8 Pages

Simply put, he scoffs at the notion that anyone would rather take the more difficult path by choosing to live, when a much easier path is available: suicide. However, the more important implication of this quote is that he neglects to use any personal pronouns or explicit statements. Instead, he focuses his words on society in general in an attempt to bury or deflect his personal feelings on the subject, although the audience knows that these are his own thoughts. This type of defense mechanism is called a projection, an often unconscious process that occurs when someone focuses attention on others in order to “avoid being aware of those feelings in oneself” (Abeles 1). A noticeable transition occurs in the subsequent statement, as Hamlet incorporates the first person pronoun “we” to answer his previous question: “But that the dread of something after death . . .

Read More

Dissociative Identity Disorder In Hamlet

1105 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the play, Hamlet has various points where he is confronted with suicidal thoughts or attempts. Throughout Hamlet’s first soliloquy “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw resolve itself into a dew, / Or that the Everlasting had not fixed/ His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! Oh God, God!”

Read More

Grief In Hamlet's Grief

1071 Words | 5 Pages

His depression is so great that he has thought of suicide, a huge cultural sin, as he knows. Hamlet’s thoughtfulness is also conveyed, taking six lines to delve into his emotions.

Read More

Madness Of Insanity In Hamlet

1153 Words | 5 Pages

He is depressed and suicidal as indicated in his infamous quote, “To be, or not to be: that is the question.” (3.1.57). However, while many may choose to carry on after the death of a loved one, Hamlet chose to hold on to his sorrow and pretended to be mad so he can know the truth behind his father’s death. Hamlet’s tragic life is not the cause for his madness. Hamlet drives himself to the brink of insanity

Read More

Hamlet Mental Illness

1533 Words | 7 Pages

Death is one of the most prominent themes in Hamlet, appearing in different forms. Shakespeare displays death through the suicide of Ophelia, Hamlet’s own thoughts and eventual suicide, and the murder of King Hamlet and Polonius. Hamlet displays suicidal tendencies throughout the play through his soliloquies. The first time that Hamlet contemplates committing suicide is when Gertrude and Claudius tell him that he has to stay in Denmark in Act one. “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, or that the Everlasting had not fixed his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter!

Read More

Dynamic Characters In Hamlet

2487 Words | 10 Pages

The “To be or not to be” soliloquy is very pessimistic in nature, heightening Hamlet’s distressed mental state. Just as in every soliloquy, life is heavily examined by Hamlet, but in this particular speech, it is as if Hamlet has reached his final straw, mentally. At this point, Hamlet is questioning which option is nobler to “suffer the slings of and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles / and, by opposing, end them” (3.1.66-67). Shortly after, the analytical Hamlet considers the pros and cons of suicide. On one hand, suicide is essentially an eternal session of sleep that would end all of life’s troubles making it “a consummation / Devoutly to be wished”.

Read More

Theme Of Innocence In Hamlet

1250 Words | 5 Pages

In the “To be or not to be” soliloquy, Hamlet says, “To die, to sleep/ No more—and by a sleep to say we end/ The heartache and the thousand natural shocks/ That flesh/ is heir to—’tis a consummation/ Devoutly to be wished!”(3.1 61-64) Proving that he is so distraught about taking action against his uncle that he believes that death would be an easier alterative to losing his purity and innocence. He ultimately decides that suicide is not the answer, “With this regard their currents turn awry/ And lose the name of action,” (3.1 88-89) because he cannot take the uncertainty of the afterlife. This entire soliloquy also highlights Hamlets delayed action to his problems.

Read More

Hamlet Act 1 Analysis

1646 Words | 7 Pages

Hamlet believes in God and believes that suicide is a sin. He believes in fate and that God, like he takes the sparrow, will take him when he it is his time. This can also explain why he took so long to avenge his father’s murder. He had to make sure everything was ready and he looked at every possible angle. He is uncertain for a long time when the right time

Read More

Hamlet's Speech About Suicide

420 Words | 2 Pages

Hamlet: I do not have any moral or religious disagreements to suicide. I honestly believe that a great amount of people would kill themselves but that the thought of something after death scares them. - Kll: What is your

Read More

How Does Shakespeare Create Tension In Hamlet

657 Words | 3 Pages

Through contemplating if life or death is better, he talks about barring the whips and scorns of time and what will come after death. However, what seems to scare Hamlet the most, is the fear of the unknown, which ultimately prevents him from committing suicide. Again, Shakespeare is addressing this greater concern of humanity, the fear of death and the afterlife, the fear of the unknown that so many people had. Through having a character who is inherently mad deliver this truly thought provoking speech, Shakespeare showcases that quite literally anyone is/can be concerned with death and the unknown afterlife, despite their state of mind. Hamlet’s soliloquy addresses something many people feel/experience at one point, but Shakespeare also goes as far as demonstrating this obsession with death and the fear of the unknown, can go too far--as it eventually leaves Hamlet to true madness and ultimately causes

Read More

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Hamlet

880 Words | 4 Pages

Hamlet’s ability to overthink situations or decisions makes him conclude that committing suicide might be the easy way out of his indecisiveness. Hamlet overthinks every problem that is happening. He overthinks so much that he cannot make up his decision about what to do with the problem. The cluelessness that is going on within his mind makes him lose his mental status, life and the love of his life. Hamlets actions are hypnotized by his thoughts: “Thus Conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pitch and moment, With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action” (3.1.85-90).

Read More

Death Theme In Hamlet

847 Words | 4 Pages

In his soliloquy, he is asking himself whether it is better to live or to die, which he is considering to commit suicide. Also, in the soliloquy, Hamlet states that “Who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscovered country from whose bourn No traveler returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of?” (3.1.84-90). He explains that no one would like to live in an exhausting life, unless they don’t know what is going to happen after they die because they are afraid of what their after life is going to be. Both these quotes prove that the death symbol is always surrounded by Hamlet and he has a hard time to choose between life and

Read More

Theme Of Suicide In Hamlet

711 Words | 3 Pages

Because of how closely religion and moral was tied together, suicide was considered morally wrong due to its classification as a sin. Hamlet himself claims in the «O´ that this too, too solid flesh would melt» soliloquy that he would commit suicide had it not been deemed wrong by the church. In other words, the play Hamlet treats suicide as a

Read More

More about Why Does Hamlet Struggle With Death

Related Topics

Open Document