ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHT POET AND OTHERS

HAMLET

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What does Hamlet mean by “To be or not to be, that is the question”?
A
Should I even exist? Should I end my life?
B
Should I really kill King Claudius? Does he deserve to live?
C
Was my father murdered? Should I trust a ghost?
D
What will come of my revenge? Should I continue with my plan?
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -"To be, or not to be” is the opening phrase of a speech given by Prince Hamlet in the so-called “nunnery scene” of William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1. In the speech, Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, weighing the pain and unfairness of life against the alternative, which might be worse.

Detailed explanation-2: -To be or not to be Hamlet is in a state of shock and grief as he has discovered that his father has been murdered by his uncle. Throughout this soliloquy, which happens at the start of Act 3 Scene 1, he thinks about whether he should face life’s hardships head on or end them by dying.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hamlet says ‘To be or not to be’ because he is questioning the value of life and asking himself whether it’s worthwhile hanging in there. He is extremely depressed at this point and fed up with everything in the world around him, and he is contemplating putting an end to himself.

Detailed explanation-4: -In Hamlet’s ‘To be, or not to be’ soliloquy he uses antithesis when he places the ideas of life and death next to each other, discussing whether or not it’s better to live or die.

Detailed explanation-5: -Ophelia complies and waits with a book while the two men hide. Hamlet enters, speaking his “To be or not to be” soliloquy. He ponders the nature of being and nothingness, and then notices Ophelia reading. Hamlet, assuming that she is reading prayers, asks her to pray for him.

There is 1 question to complete.