The Tale Hamlet by William Shakespeare Essay - 1413 Words

Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, is a tale that has withstood the test of time because of the relevance to modern day and the near flawless delivery of the story’s themes. Though many sections and passages can capture the spirit of Shakespeare’s tales, none does so better than the famous soliloquy Hamlet spoke to Ophelia. In the opening lines, Hamlet says: 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? To die, to sleep- (3.1.138) In other words, Hamlet is starts off by asking whether it is better to be alive or dead. As pessimistic as his question seems, it can be deemed†¦show more content†¦To die, to sleep. (3.1.138) Here Hamlet further reinforces death as the best decision by restating death as, metaphorically, sleep. He then illustrates death as an answer to Earthly troubles such as heartache and shock while further cementing death a the most viable option by saying it is something one should wish for. Unfortunately, Hamlet changes pace and acknowledges that there is a catch when death arrives: To sleep: perchance to dream- ay, theres the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: theres the respect That makes calamity of so long life; (3.1.138) In other words, Hamlet explains how humans do not know what awaits them after death. The dream, a metaphor for the life after death, is unknown to humans. Fearing the unknown, mankind is driven to expect the worst outcome, which is why many still choose to live rather than die. Afterwards, Hamlet lists all the aliements that come with life which includes abusive managers, being insulted by arrogant men, loving someone who does not reciprocate the emotion, dealing with a faulted legal system, rudeness of people in office, and the mistreatment good people are subjected to by bad people (Shakespeare.) Shakespeare likely listed as many examples as he did hoping to invoke a connection with Hamlet’s point, further engaging the viewer or reader. Simply put, Hamlet reinforces his belief thatShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - The Tale Of A Juvenile Prince1197 Words   |  5 Pages Hamlet is the tale of a juvenile prince determined to reveal the truth about his father’s recent quietus. Hamlet’s uncle ,Claudius, marries his mother the queen, and therefore, takes the throne. In Act 1 (scene 5), Hamlet is told by the apparition of his dead father that it was his uncle, who murdered him. 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