FREE ESSAY ON TO BE OR NOT TO BE

TO BE OR NOT TO BE

 To be, or not to be ... 
Prince Hamlet, Hamlet, III, i, 105
The most notable line by Hamlet in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet is  To be, or not to
be, that is the question. Hamlet's statement defines the central theme of the play and
provides the reader with insight into Hamlet's psychological dilemma. His self-inquiry is
a projection of what will occur in the play. Again and again, Shakespeare brings us back
to Hamlet's plight: can he act or is he paralyzed by cowardice? Throughout the play
Hamlet is unable to come to a concrete resolution of avenging his father's death, whether
to kill Claudius, and reconciling himself to his mother marrying his uncle. Hamlet's
indecisive personality determines how he deals with these issues.
At the very outset of the play, Barnardo sets the stage by posing the question Who's
there? (I,i,3) Little does the reader know at this time that this question will be
repeatedly asked in different forms throughout the play. Who is Hamlet? And does Hamlet
really know who he is himself? Will the real Hamlet step forward and be a decisive and
righteous avenger of his father's death or will he be a timid and irresolute fumbler
unable to make up his mind about matters of life and death? Before Hamlet poses the
identity-defining To be or not to be question, the ghost of his late father confronts him
(III,i,105). His father's spirit informs Hamlet that: The serpent that did sting thy
father's life/Now wears his crown (I, v, 35-39). Hamlet is now cognizant that his
father's life was not taken by a wild beast, but by his own brother Claudius. . The
strange appearance of his father's ghost should have been enough to motivate Hamlet to
action. But Hamlet's indecisive nature causes him to hesitate and satisfy himself through
investigation that Claudius was his father's murderer and usurper of his mother. If
Hamlet had acted impulsively (as many would have done), Shakespeare would have deprived
us of a psychological tragedy. But Hamlet's wrestling of his conscience provides the
vehicle for establishing Claudius's guilt and allows Hamlet to resolve his internal
struggles. 
Hamlet is so indecisive that he is not certain how to go about avenging his father's
death. Hamlet must resolve this divided intentions regarding his father, uncle and mother
and his intense emotional turmoil before he is able to act to avenge his father's death.
One can see how incredibly weakly Hamlet behaves by measuring the time before Hamlet can
establish even a plan of action. Hamlet is faithful I his pledge to his father, yet he
procrastinates until, by chance a group of players come to Elsinore. Upon arrival Hamlet
excitedly greets them, Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore (II, ii, 384). Continuing
to wait for the perfect situation confirming Claudius' guilt is another instance
illustrating Hamlet's psychological timidity. Hamlet may be anticipating a moment of
truth that will never happen. Although Hamlet's plan of re-enacting the death of his
father is a good idea, the promise of revenge took place long after Hamlet swore his
revenge against Claudius in act one. Hamlet is afraid to take his own initiative and can
only act when a convenient situation is ready-made. He cannot act on his own convictions
or make the decision to act or not to act on his own. As a weak personality with strong
intentions, he can only act when all the circumstances are in his favor. At the core,
Hamlet is indecisive and a coward unable to act in critical situations. 
Hamlet is presented with the opportunity to kill Claudius in the chapel, but instead
decides to wait for a better time to avenge his father's death. As Hamlet dangles the
sword over Claudius he muses to himself, And am I then revenged/ To take him in the
purging of his should, / When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? / No (III, iii,
74-96). But delay and procrastination do not work to his advantage. Although Hamlet has
the intention of killing Claudius at this moment, he hesitates again and gives a lengthy
speech to himself. This self-analysis is inadequate. All Hamlet can do is analyze his
predicament. AS much as he strongly believes that his father's death must be redressed,
he cannot take definite response. If he truly had the desire and will to accomplish his
objective, he would have used the opportunity to achieve this specific task. Hamlet does
not create a situation in which he can assassinate Claudius, but again he chances upon
the defenseless King. Even when the situation appears right he cannot act. He is a coward
psychologically torn into pieces of inaction.. Hamlet tries to rationalize why he will
not kill the king,  Now might I do it pat, now a is a-praying, (III, iii,73).
Unfortunately, Hamlet's rationalizations about why he cannot seize the moment exacerbate
his cowardice and inability to take a definite course of action. Hamlet's inability to
kill Claudius in the chapel is another example of Prince Hamlet's irresolute manner and
cowardly behavior. He is not mature enough to form and create opportunities to attain the
ultimate goal for which he strives and plans.
Lastly, when Hamlet does kill Claudius, it a chance incident that cannot be appreciated
by Hamlet because he too is fatally injured. Hamlet is pitted against Laertes in duel,
which Claudius deviously thinks up. Hamlet is to be killed by a sword with poison at the
tip and then If he by chance escape your venomed stuck, Our purpose may hold there
(IV,vii, 158-160). During the duel, three main events occur: 1. Gertrude accidentally
drinks the poisonous cup intended for Hamlet and proclaims to the world, The drink-the
drink-I have been poisoned! (V, ii, 282); 2. Laertes and Hamlet are both fatally injured
by each other during the duel. Horatio says that they bleed on both sides. (V, ii,
280,283); and 3. before Hamlet can die, Hamlet kills Claudius telling him to drink off
the potion that killed his mother as well (V, ii, 301-305). When Hamlet kills Claudius,
it is his final act before he dies. One can infer that had Hamlet not been presented with
an opportunity to kill Claudius before his own death, then Hamlet would have never
avenged his father's death. Had Laertes killed Hamlet in the duel, as planned, Hamlet
would not have been able to wound and poison Claudius. Hamlet fortunately was provided
with the chance to kill Claudius and ultimately seized the moment. This demonstrates that
Hamlet's actions capitalize on chance happenings, while he really lacks the maturity and
ambition to create his own opportunity to vindicate his father's death.
In sum, Hamlet is an indecisive character who is unable to act on impulse or take
initiative to achieve what he wants. He chances on situations that force him to put his
thoughts into action. This trait of only acting when other events force decisions
illustrates Hamlet's weakness and inability to kill King Claudius even when given an
opportune moment. This indecisive weakness of resolve can be summed up in the pensive
thought to be or not to be. This is the ultimate question of Who is there? that
underscores the indecision that plagues Hamlet throughout the play. This character flaw
ultimately leads to his own demise.
Bibliography
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