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  2. Nov 3, 2018 · Hamlet’s soliloquy from William Shakespeare’s play is rightly celebrated for being a meditation on the nature of life and death, but some interpretations of the soliloquy serve to reduce the lines to a more simplistic meaning. So what does ‘To be or not to be’ really mean? To be, or not to be, that is the question:

    • Soliloquy

      By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) Hamlet’s first...

    • Why Is ‘To Be Or Not to Be’ So Important?
    • Why Does Hamlet Say ‘To Be Or Not to Be’?
    • Is ‘To Be Or Not to Be’ A Metaphor?
    • What Is Shakespeare Saying in ‘To Be Or Not to Be’?

    ‘To be or not to be’ is not important in itself but it has gained tremendous significance in that it is perhaps the most famous phrase in all the words of the playwright considered to be the greatest writer in the English language. It is also significant in the play, Hamlet, itself in that it goes directly to the heart of the play’s meaning.

    To be or not to be’ is a soliloquy of Hamlet’s – meaning that although he is speaking aloud to the audience none of the other characters can hear him. Soliloquies were a convention of Elizabethan playswhere characters spoke their thoughts to the audience. Hamlet says ‘To be or not to be’ because he is questioning the value of life and asking himsel...

    The line ‘To be or not to be’ is very straightforward and direct, and has no metaphorical aspect at all. It’s a simple statement made up of five two-letter words and one of three – it’s so simple that a child in the early stages of learning to read can read it. Together with the sentence that follows it – ‘that is the question – it is a simple ques...

    In the ‘To be or not be to’ soliloquy Shakespeare has his Hamlet character speak theses famous lines. Hamlet is wondering whether he should continue to be, meaning to exist or remain alive, or to not exist – in other words, commit suicide. His thoughts about that develop in the rest of the soliloquy.

  3. What does “To be, or not to bemean? “To be, or not be” means Hamlet’s mind is torn between two things, “being” and “not being.” “Being” means life and action. While “not being” refers to death and inaction.

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  4. To be, or not to be’ is the opening line of a monologue spoken by the character Hamlet in Act III, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy Hamlet (c. 1599–1601).

    • Meg Matthias
  5. "To be, or not to be" is a speech given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called "nunnery scene" of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet (Act 3, Scene 1). The speech is named for the opening phrase, itself among the most widely known and quoted lines in modern English literature, and has been referenced in many works of theatre, literature and music.

  6. "To Be or Not to Be": Meaning and Analysis. The "To be or not to be" soliloquy appears in Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In this scene, often called the "nunnery scene," Prince Hamlet thinks about life, death, and suicide.

  7. Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy explores the theme of existentialism and the meaning of life and death. Hamlet contemplates the nature of existence, the pain...