What is the theme of to be or not to be?

The soliloquy is essentially all about life and death: “To be or not to be” means “To live or not to live” (or “To live or to die”). Hamlet discusses how painful and miserable human life is, and how death (specifically suicide) would be preferable, would it not be for the fearful uncertainty of what comes after death.

Is to be or not to be a question?

That makes calamity of so long life. Than fly to others that we know not of? And lose the name of action.

What does Hamlet’s fifth soliloquy mean?

Hamlet’s fifth soliloquy falls in Act 3, Scene 2, when he is about to go to his mother’s chamber in response to her summons. This short soliloquy focuses on the upcoming conversation between Hamlet and his mother, Queen Gertrude, and its preparation in Hamlet’s mind.

How do you deliver a soliloquy?

As well as making sense of the soliloquy, it’s important to give it an upward journey; it must build. As Peter Brooks said, “The journey is the destination.” Every new thought must be strong, and must clearly draw you closer to your answer. Each thought may also give more clues to your character.

How does Hamlet die?

Claudius dies on-stage, stabbed and poisoned by a vengeful Hamlet (the stabbing seems to be the fatal blow, since he dies immediately). Hamlet dies on-stage, stabbed by Laertes with a blade poisoned by Claudius (it seems to be the poison that kills him, since he takes a while to die).

Is to be or not to be a soliloquy?

Since “To be or not to be” takes place with others on stage, and since it deviates from the patterns Shakespeare established in Hamlet’s actual soliloquies, it cannot be a soliloquy. Since the speech is not a soliloquy, it cannot be staged as a soliloquy and still be faithful to the text.

What is the main theme in Hamlet?

The Mystery of Death And, since death is both the cause and the consequence of revenge, it is intimately tied to the theme of revenge and justice—Claudius’s murder of King Hamlet initiates Hamlet’s quest for revenge, and Claudius’s death is the end of that quest.

What is the big issue in Hamlet’s soliloquy?

The “big issue” in Hamlet’s soliloquy is the inner turmoil that Hamlet is confronted with after his life takes a turn for the worst. He knows what he must do if he is to have even the slightest chance of improving his situation, but a much deeper issue skews this seemingly easy decision.