ELA.R.10.R.1.2 Hamlet part 2

Hamlet - Let's break it down

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; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

**This part of the excerpt from "Hamlet" is a famous soliloquy, and Hamlet is reflecting on the idea of life and death, specifically the question of whether it is better to live or to die. Let's break it down:

Hamlet - Let's break it down

 "To be, or not to be, that is the question:" Hamlet is presenting a fundamental question: Is it better to exist (to be) or not to exist (not to be)? This question serves as the central theme of his contemplation.

"Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," Here, Hamlet is weighing the idea of enduring life's challenges and hardships ("the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune") with nobility and patience. He is considering whether it is more honorable to endure suffering in life.

"Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them." In this line, Hamlet is contemplating whether it might be more courageous and decisive to actively confront and overcome life's difficulties and troubles rather than passively enduring them.

Hamlet - Let's break it down

 "To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd." Hamlet shifts his focus to the idea of death. He suggests that death is like a peaceful sleep in which all pain, suffering, and the "thousand natural shocks" that human flesh is vulnerable to come to an end. He believes that this end is something to be desired ("devoutly to be wish'd").

"To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;" Hamlet introduces a complication to his contemplation of death. He acknowledges that in the sleep of death, there may be dreams or unknown experiences ("perchance to dream"). This is where he encounters a dilemma or complication ("ay, there's the rub"). He suggests that the uncertainty of what happens after death makes the decision more complex.

In this soliloquy, Hamlet is wrestling with profound existential questions about the nature of life, the suffering it entails, and the uncertainty of what comes after death. He is pondering the pros and cons of living and dying, and this passage serves as a glimpse into his inner turmoil and philosophical reflection. It's a pivotal moment in the play that reveals Hamlet's complex character and sets the stage for the themes explored throughout the rest of the story.

Hamlet - Let's break it down

 This part of the excerpt from "Hamlet," Hamlet continues to reflect on the consequences and uncertainties of death. Let's break it down:

"For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil," Hamlet is considering the possibility of experiencing dreams or something unknown after death ("what dreams may come") when one has shed their mortal body ("shuffled off this mortal coil"). He's emphasizing that the nature of existence after death is a mystery.

"Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life;" Hamlet asserts that this mystery of what comes after death ("what dreams may come") is a reason to hesitate or pause before choosing death. The word "respect" here means caution or reverence. He suggests that the uncertainty of the afterlife adds gravity to the decision to live, even in the face of a difficult and lengthy life ("calamity of so long life").

"For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes," Hamlet lists a series of hardships and injustices that people endure in life, such as the injustices of time, mistreatment by others, the pain of unrequited love, the slow workings of the legal system, and the arrogance of those in power. He asks, rhetorically, who would willingly endure these hardships.

Hamlet - Let's break it down

"When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?" Hamlet suggests that anyone could choose to end their suffering ("quietus," meaning end or relief) with a simple tool ("bare bodkin," a small dagger or knife). In other words, one could end their life to escape their troubles.

"Who would these fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life," Here, Hamlet refers to life's burdens as "fardels" and characterizes life as a heavy and exhausting journey ("grunt and sweat under a weary life").

Hamlet - Let's break it down

"But that the dread of something after death, The undiscovered country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have" Hamlet concludes by stating that the fear of the unknown after death ("the undiscovered country") and the fact that no one who has died returns to tell about it ("no traveller returns") confound our will or decision-making. This fear of the unknown leads people to endure the suffering and hardships of life rather than risk what might come after death.

**In this part of the soliloquy, Hamlet is articulating a central theme of the passage: the fear of the unknown aspects of death and the uncertainty of what comes after it. This fear, he suggests, is what prevents people from choosing death as an escape from life's hardships and injustices. The passage underscores Hamlet's internal struggle and his complex feelings about life and death.

Hamlet - Let's break it down

Than fly to others that we know not of? 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.--Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered.

In this part of the excerpt from "Hamlet," Hamlet reflects on the consequences of the fear of the unknown after death and how it affects human behavior. Let's break it down:

"Than fly to others that we know not of?" Hamlet is expressing that people often choose to endure the known difficulties of life ("fly to others") rather than risk the unknown aspects of death and what might come after it.

Hamlet - Let's break it down

"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;" Hamlet argues that it's our moral or ethical consciousness ("conscience") that turns people into cowards. The fear of the unknown after death, driven by a sense of moral responsibility or the uncertainty of the consequences, often paralyzes people from taking action.

"And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought," Hamlet describes how our natural determination and decisiveness ("the native hue of resolution") become weakened and diluted when we overthink and dwell on our actions ("sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought"). In other words, too much contemplation and hesitation can erode one's resolve.

Hamlet - Let's break it down

"And enterprises of great pitch and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action." Hamlet believes that important and significant endeavors ("enterprises of great pitch and moment") lose their momentum and the label of "action" when individuals are consumed by doubts and overthinking. In this way, opportunities are missed, and actions are postponed or abandoned.

"Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered." In a sudden change of tone, Hamlet becomes aware of Ophelia's presence and asks her to be gentle and quiet ("Soft you now!"). He addresses Ophelia with affection and asks her to remember him in her prayers ("Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered"). This shift in Hamlet's demeanor underscores the complexity of his character and emotions.

In this section, Hamlet is exploring the idea that the fear of the unknown after death and the moral considerations associated with it often lead people to hesitate, overthink, and fail to take action. He is critical of this hesitation, seeing it as a hindrance to decisive action and a source of inner turmoil. Hamlet's inner conflict is a central theme in the play, and this passage provides insight into his internal struggles and the themes of life, death, and conscience.