Hamlet: to Be or Not to Be Analysis

The ‘To be or not to be,’ soliloquy delivered by Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play is one of the best-known passages in English drama. Hamlet’s contemplation of suicide provides insight into his current state of mind. Hamlet’s use of argumentative syntax and affirmative diction suggest someone who is thinking clearly and logically, yet the conclusion of his speech reveals someone who is cowardly and indecisive. In the first few lines of his speech, Hamlet imposes the rhetorical question should he continue living or cease his existence. “To be or not to be,” an excellent example of syntax, sets the stage for his argument. Hamlet decides to defend the ‘not to be’ side by claiming suicide is a better option and proves this point through a series of clauses, from lines 9 through 22. He builds his argument by cross-examining the question, “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,”(line 15.) He is really questioning who would want to carry the harsh burdens life brings, meaning, if he were to follow through with his suicide all of his issues would vanish. Hamlet utilizes the series of clauses in lines 15 through 22 to display how painful life can be. “The pangs of despise’d love,” conveys how love doesn’t work out. But in the midst of this, in line 23, he seems to have a sudden change of heart. Hamlet is attempting to convince himself to commit suicide and then he uses the conjunction ‘but’ to completely overturn his previous statements. Hamlet says, “The undiscover’d country/ From whose bourn no traveller returns, puzzles the will.” Hamlet doesn’t know what comes after death and this thought scares him, this idea makes him appear weak. In his last sentence of his speech Hamlet comes down from his high horse and tells that his ‘currents turn awry’ and that he has accepted that he will continue to live. However the only reason he chooses life over suicide is that he fears the unknown. Because of this fear, he and anyone who is in this predicament will “lose the name of action’ and continue to live.” This portrays him to be a coward, he even admits that he is one in line 28, “This conscience does make cowards of us all.” He generalizes being afraid of death is a universal thought and that’s what makes people intimidated of the unknown.
Hamlet’s affirmative diction makes his argument for committing suicide seem reasonable. Hamlet uses powerful clauses such as “The pangs of despis’d love, the law’s delay/The insolence of office,” to try and persuade himself that he should commit suicide and not live this cruel, unfair life. In line 23 the tone of the diction changes, he comes to a self-realization that he does not know what comes after death and that if he commits suicide there is no coming back to life. “But the dread of something after death/The undiscover’d country, from whose born, no traveller returns, puzzles the will.” The realization causes him to pause and really decide if death is the right option. Hamlet’s pondering of suicide portrays a man who is thinking clearly and logically and proves this through the use of affirmative diction and argumentative syntax. At the end of his speech he is very indecisive of committing suicide. The reason he chooses life is because he is intimidated of the boundaries of the unknown.