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Hamlet’s Dilemma: To be or not to be
The manifested acts are as a result of what has been going on in someone’s mind. They at times demonstrate the kind of conflicting issues and dilemma that stem from the unconscious part of the mind as a result of the past traumatic experiences.The behavior elicited by an individual is in many times shaped by life issues that one has experienced. Some of the issues are unbearable if repressed and therefore for one to lead a normal life, they need to deal with them. On the other hand, it is very important that one takes many other issues into consideration when making decisions on how to react to various concerns. Some of such include the consequences likely to be elicited by the decisions they take. It is after considering the cons and pros that individuals should move ahead to make up their mind. Much of the Hamlet play is dominated by the literature style of soliloquy. This is the technique that is used by someone in the play when they speak to themselves to reveal their thoughts and experiences to the audience. The person might appear to be conversing with someone else while in the real sense, they are talking to themselves. The main reason for this is for the actor to pass the message of what is going on in their minds to the listeners and what they intend to do. Without soliloquy in plays, it is would be almost impossible to intrude into character’s minds and know their intentions.Hamlet is one sad character in the play after the loss of his dad who used to be the king. Much of his anger and bitterness has been suppressed in his heart and it is becoming too much for him. He is being haunted by the ghost of his father who seems to instruct him from time to time. However, the ghost in this case is all about what Hamlet has been thinking all along as the possible cause of his father’s death.The main theme in this particular part of ‘to be or not to be’ is dilemma. It is the point at which one is torn between two conflicting options and does not know which one to choose and which to leave. In the play, Hamlet has been appeared to by his dead father in the form of a ghost who tells him that the reason why he is dead is because he was poisoned. To make the matters even worse, Hamlet learns that it is his own uncle who was responsible for the death of his father. He is requested to avenge for him as a way to demonstrate his love to him.It is the above experience that seems to leave Hamlet in a dilemma and having many conflicting issues. First of all he is not sure whether he is dreaming or the whole thing is a reality.
‘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,” (Act 3 Scene II). This particular portion of the play demonstrates the dilemma in Hamlet’s mind. However this is not a dream he is going through but a reality of what is in his mind. He knows he has to fulfill the task ahead of him as requested by his dad. He can not choose between life and death. He knows that the only way to overcome the sea of troubles that seem to haunt him in his mind is to confront the sources of those conflicting issues. Any decision that he seems to be thinking of taking however has implications in his life and he is afraid to do so. He contemplates committing suicide as the only way to overcome the troubles that have been haunting him, but on the other hand, he is bound by the conscious issues that such an act is not the best in solving what he is going through.To be or not to be could also demonstrate the instance of not taking any action at all. “– and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks…’ (Act 3, scene 2). This particular line offers another alternative to defeating the problem of the dilemma that is manifested here. By sleeping, Hamlet says, this will help to end the conflicting issues that are going on in his mind. The problem ‘goes’ away without causing any much trouble to anyone else and worsening the situation further. However, he is so sure that there is no solution in this since once he awakens from the sleep; he will have to contend with the similar troubles.
Conclusively, this kind of soliloquy of ‘to do or not to do’ has been used in this context to bring out the conflicting experiences in Prince Hamlet’s mind that has made him to be in this kind of dilemma. He doubts whether it was wise to suffer mental torture and was considering giving up the whole issue of avenging for his dad. However, he knew that that was not the solution since his father’s ghost would continue haunting him and that is the reason he chose ‘to be’ and completed the task.
