Just the soliloquies: Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" (analysis)

Summary

Carly Stevens, a teacher and author, delves into Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' in her English Nerd series, focusing on the famous 'To be or not to be' soliloquy. She explores Hamlet's contemplation of life and death, the metaphors of suffering versus action, and the fear of the unknown afterlife. Stevens discusses the soliloquy's themes of existential struggle and the impact of overthinking, emphasizing the significance of human decisions and the play's dark yet thought-provoking nature.

Takeaways

• 📚 Carly Stevens is a teacher and author who dives deep into Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', focusing on its soliloquies.
• 🎭 The 'To be, or not to be' soliloquy is the most famous and is explored in detail, starting with its central question about the value of life and death.
• 🤔 Hamlet contemplates whether it's nobler to endure life's hardships or to actively oppose them, even to the point of ending one's own life.
• 🌊 The soliloquy uses rich metaphors like 'a sea of troubles' and 'slings and arrows' to represent life's challenges.
• 💤 Death is likened to sleep, a peaceful end to life's suffering, but Hamlet worries about the unknown nature of dreams that may come after death.
• 🔄 The repetition of 'to sleep, to sleep' emphasizes Hamlet's contemplation on the act of dying and what it might entail.
• 😟 Hamlet's fear of the 'Undiscovered Country' (the afterlife) causes him to pause, reflecting on the uncertainty that makes life bearable despite its suffering.
• 🛡 The soliloquy also touches on societal ills like pride, contempt, and the abuse of power, which contribute to the 'calamity of so long life'.
• ⚔️ Hamlet's internal struggle with taking action, symbolized by the 'Bodkin' (dagger), represents his ongoing conflict with the idea of suicide.
• 🧠 The soliloquy reveals Hamlet's overthinking and how it saps the strength of his resolve, a recurring theme throughout the play.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' soliloquy?

The main theme of Hamlet's soliloquy is the contemplation of life and death, specifically whether it is better to endure life's hardships or to end them by dying.

How does Carly Stevens introduce the soliloquy series on her channel?

Carly Stevens introduces the soliloquy series by mentioning her previous series on Hamlet and stating her intention to focus solely on soliloquies from various plays, starting with Hamlet's famous 'To be or not to be' speech.

What is the significance of the phrase 'To be or not to be' in the soliloquy?

The phrase 'To be or not to be' is significant as it encapsulates Hamlet's existential dilemma throughout the soliloquy, pondering the question of whether it is better to live or to die.

What are the 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' referring to in the soliloquy?

The 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' refers to the various misfortunes and hardships that life throws at individuals, which Hamlet is considering whether to endure or to fight against.

How does Hamlet view death in the soliloquy?

In the soliloquy, Hamlet views death as a form of sleep, a peaceful state that ends the heartache and suffering of life, but he is also concerned about the unknown aspect of what comes after death.

What is the 'rub' that Hamlet refers to in the soliloquy?

The 'rub' Hamlet refers to is the potential for dreams or experiences after death, which are beyond his control, and this uncertainty makes him hesitate to choose death over life.

What does Carly Stevens suggest about Hamlet's character based on his soliloquy?

Carly Stevens suggests that Hamlet's character is deeply contemplative and conflicted, as he grapples with the decision of whether to endure life's suffering or to end it, highlighting his introspective nature.

What is the 'Undiscovered Country' mentioned by Hamlet?

The 'Undiscovered Country' is a metaphor for the afterlife or death, which Hamlet describes as unknown and uncertain, causing him to pause and consider the implications of suicide.

How does Carly Stevens interpret the line 'Conscience does make cowards of us all'?

Carly Stevens interprets 'Conscience does make cowards of us all' as Hamlet's reflection on how the awareness of right and wrong, or the fear of the unknown after death, can make people hesitate to take decisive actions, even when they are contemplating ending their own lives.

What does the soliloquy reveal about Hamlet's attitude towards life's hardships?

The soliloquy reveals that Hamlet is deeply troubled by life's hardships, such as the scorns of time, the pangs of despised love, and the insolence of office, which contribute to his contemplation of suicide as a means of escape.

How does Carly Stevens connect the soliloquy to the broader themes of Shakespeare's works?

Carly Stevens connects the soliloquy to the broader themes of Shakespeare's works by emphasizing the significance of human life and the struggle between the desire for peace and the fear of the unknown, which are prevalent in many of Shakespeare's plays.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to the Soliloquy Series

In this introductory paragraph, Carly Stevens, a teacher and author, welcomes viewers to her channel 'English Nerd.' She explains that she has previously done a series analyzing *Hamlet* scene by scene but now plans to focus exclusively on soliloquies. This new series will begin with Hamlet's famous 'To be or not to be' soliloquy and expand to other Shakespearean plays. She highlights the significance of this speech as one of the most famous soliloquies of all time, making it a natural starting point.

05:00

🤔 Hamlet's Existential Question

The second paragraph delves into the start of Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' soliloquy. Carly emphasizes the central question: whether it is better to live or to die, with Hamlet contemplating the suffering life brings versus the uncertainty of death. She explains the metaphor of life’s struggles as 'slings and arrows' and contrasts it with the image of fighting back against 'a sea of troubles.' This section illustrates Hamlet’s internal debate about enduring life’s hardships or actively seeking an end to them through death.

10:01

💤 Death as Sleep: A Comforting Analogy?

Here, Carly explains Hamlet’s comparison of death to sleep, describing it as a peaceful end to life’s 'heartache and natural shocks.' She notes that Hamlet initially presents death in a positive light, as sleep offers a reprieve from pain. Carly discusses how Hamlet begins to lean towards 'not to be,' viewing death as a desirable alternative to life's struggles, with sleep becoming a metaphor for the calmness that death could bring.

15:03

💭 The Fear of the Unknown Afterlife

This paragraph explores Hamlet's hesitation about death, prompted by the uncertainty of what dreams—representing the afterlife—might come in the 'sleep of death.' Carly highlights Hamlet’s fear of losing control over what happens after death, contrasting sleep’s temporary nature with death’s permanence. This fear of the unknown is what makes Hamlet pause, as he contemplates the possible horrors or unknown experiences awaiting him after life.

📜 Life's Burdens and Delayed Justice

In this section, Carly discusses Hamlet’s reflections on the various hardships of life, such as 'whips and scorns of time,' oppression, and the arrogance of others. These sufferings, he argues, are what people endure rather than face the uncertainty of death. Carly breaks down difficult language, explaining archaic terms like 'contumely' and 'spurns,' and she connects Hamlet’s thoughts on life’s pains to broader themes of pride, injustice, and love that has been rejected or undervalued.

🗡️ Bodkins and Quietus: Choosing Death?

Carly explains Hamlet’s contemplation of ending his life, symbolized by a 'bare bodkin' (a dagger), which would bring 'quietus,' or a final settlement. She interprets Hamlet’s musings on death as an escape from life’s 'fartles' (burdens). However, Hamlet remains unsure about the afterlife, represented as 'the undiscovered country,' which prevents him from taking decisive action. Carly also notes the irony of Hamlet’s father returning from death, yet Hamlet remains unsure of his own fate after death.

🧠 Overthinking and Inaction

Carly discusses Hamlet’s awareness of his tendency to overthink, which leads to inaction. He reflects on how fear of the unknown paralyzes him, preventing him from taking bold action, including ending his own life. Hamlet acknowledges that deep contemplation sickens the 'native hue of resolution,' meaning that too much thought causes one to hesitate rather than act. Carly connects this to Hamlet’s broader existential struggle and foreshadows how Hamlet later comes to a more peaceful understanding of life and death.

💔 Consciousness and Cowardice

In this final paragraph, Carly unpacks Hamlet’s claim that 'conscience does make cowards of us all.' She explains that 'conscience' can refer to both a moral sense of right and wrong and Hamlet’s consciousness or awareness of the consequences of death. This awareness, Hamlet argues, turns people into cowards, preventing them from acting on their thoughts. Carly also highlights Hamlet’s eventual conclusion that being ready for death is more important than obsessing over it, though at this moment in the play, he is still trapped in indecision and fear.

📚 Concluding Thoughts and Hamlet's Significance

Carly concludes the video by reflecting on the significance of Hamlet’s soliloquy within the larger context of the play. She stresses that the soliloquy’s dark themes are not meant to suggest that life is meaningless, but rather to evoke sympathy for Hamlet’s tragic situation. Carly promotes her book, *Lair Tees,* a dark academia retelling of Hamlet set in the 1920s, and invites viewers to like, subscribe, and ask questions in the comments for more 'English nerdy goodness.'

Keywords

💡Soliloquy

A soliloquy is a dramatic device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud when they are alone on stage, revealing their innermost feelings and thoughts to the audience. In the video, the soliloquy is the central focus, with the speaker analyzing Hamlet's famous 'To be or not to be' speech, which is a profound exploration of life, death, and the human condition.

💡Hamlet

Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, and the video script focuses on one of its most iconic soliloquies. The play is a complex narrative that delves into themes of revenge, mortality, and the nature of existence. The character Hamlet's contemplation in the soliloquy is a pivotal moment that reflects his philosophical and existential dilemmas.

💡To be or not to be

This phrase is the opening line of Hamlet's soliloquy and has become synonymous with existential questioning. In the video, it is discussed as the central question that Hamlet grapples with throughout the speech, pondering the value of life and the fear of death, which is a reflection of his internal conflict and the broader human experience.

💡Slings and arrows

In the script, 'the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' is a metaphor used by Hamlet to describe the hardships and misfortunes that life throws at us. The video explains how this phrase sets the stage for Hamlet's contemplation on whether it is nobler to endure life's sufferings or to fight against them.

💡Fortune

Fortune, in the context of the soliloquy, represents the unpredictable and often cruel forces that govern our lives. The video discusses how Hamlet considers whether it is better to suffer what 'Fortune' brings or to actively oppose it, which is a reflection of his struggle with his circumstances and his own agency.

💡Sea of troubles

This metaphor from the soliloquy compares life's difficulties to a vast sea of troubles. The video explains how Hamlet is weighing the option of taking arms against this sea, symbolizing a fight against the overwhelming challenges of life, versus succumbing to them.

💡Death

Death is a recurring theme in the soliloquy and the video discusses how Hamlet views death as a form of sleep, a release from life's suffering. The concept is explored as both a peaceful end to pain and an unknown, potentially fearful, state that gives Hamlet pause.

💡Consciousness

Consciousness in the video is linked to Hamlet's overthinking and his sense of right and wrong. It is discussed as a factor that makes him hesitate in taking decisive action, as his thoughts and moral considerations weigh him down, leading to inaction despite his contemplation of life's hardships.

💡Readiness

The concept of 'readiness' is mentioned towards the end of the video, referring to Hamlet's eventual acceptance of life and death. It implies a state of preparedness, both mentally and spiritually, to face the end of life, which contrasts with his earlier hesitation and uncertainty.

💡Undiscovered Country

The 'Undiscovered Country' is a poetic term used by Hamlet to describe the afterlife. The video script uses this term to illustrate Hamlet's fear and uncertainty about what lies beyond death, which is a significant factor in his contemplation of whether to live or die.

Highlights

Carly Stevens introduces a series on soliloquies starting with Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' speech.

The soliloquy questions whether it's better to live or die, given life's difficulties.

Hamlet considers if suffering is nobler than taking action against one's troubles.

Death is analogized to sleep, suggesting an end to life's heartaches.

Hamlet contemplates the unknown aspect of dreams and the afterlife.

The speech reflects on life's negative experiences, such as scorn and despair.

Hamlet's hesitation to act is due to the fear of the unknown after death.

The soliloquy explores the idea that consciousness can lead to inaction.

Hamlet's internal conflict is highlighted by his overthinking and indecision.

The speech concludes that life's burdens are preferable to the unknown after death.

Carly points out the significance of characters in Shakespeare's plays, even in their flaws.

The soliloquy is analyzed for its dark themes and Hamlet's contemplation of suicide.

Carly discusses the importance of readiness and the evolution of Hamlet's views on life and death.

The speech is critiqued for its complex language and metaphors.

Carly emphasizes the importance of understanding Hamlet's character development throughout the play.

The video ends with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content and subscribe for more.

Transcripts

hey welcome back to my channel my name

is Carly Stevens I'm a teacher and

author and this is English nerd

[Music]

so as many of you know already several

years ago I did a series all about

Hamlet going scene by scene through the

um ins and outs of the entire play so I

would definitely recommend that you

check that out if you want a deep dive

but in those videos the soliloquies are

kind of buried you have to find them and

so I thought for your ease of study I

would do a series that is just

soliloquies I'm going to start with

Hamlet but I'm not going to end with

Hamlet we'll look at

soliloquies from other plays as well but

it will just be the soliloquies so I'm

kicking things off with the classic

today the 2B or not to be speech because

that is

just it's the most famous Soliloquy of

all time so I figure it's probably going

to be the most searched as well

so yes let's let's dive in to the to be

or not to be speech

all right so here's the 2B or not to be

speech

um so it starts out with that question

that is so famous that it's easy to read

right over to be or not to be that is

the question

um that truly is the question of the

entire speech to be to live or not to

live earlier in the play Hamlet brings

up this conundrum as early as his first

Soliloquy to be or not to be is actually

his third so to be here not to be that

is the question he's going to be

considering throughout this entire thing

whether it is better to live or to die

given the difficulties that his

his life has faced

so it's a very dark subject matter for a

speech like this but it's dealt with

very beautifully which in itself I think

implies

leaning toward the 2B side

so he continues on whether it is 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

so that is really one big thought we

have two things being weighed here

whether it is nobler in the mind to

suffer on the one hand the slings and

arrows of Outrageous Fortune or to take

arms against a sea of troubles and by

opposing end them so this is an analogy

he's a nobler to suffer all that fortune

throws at you the slings the arrows or

is it better to attack Fortune head on

um although the the metaphor kind of

shifts instead of being this Warrior

Fortune uh attacking with slings and

arrows that bad fortune becomes this sea

of troubles and how do you take arms

against a sea but is it better to attack

head on all of this bad fortune and by

opposing end them the troubles

um so in this in this analogy we have

him living through enduring all of this

pain or taking action which in this case

is to

um sadly end his own life and then he

starts developing the probably the most

famous analogy in this speech and that

is

um death to sleep to die

sleep

no more and by asleep to say we end the

heartache and the Thousand natural

shocks that flesh is there to it is a

consummation devoutly to be wished

so right away when he says is it better

to be or not to be is it better to take

all this pain or to take up arms against

it

he starts leaning toward not to be

the analogy that he gives for death is

one that's very

very peaceful to sleep and buy a sleep

to say we end the heartache so he he

even clarifies that this is a positive

metaphor sleep ends pain it kind of

dulls that down when you're when you're

unconscious tis a consummation devoutly

to be wished so consummation being the

the completion of a thing with a

positive connotation to it

so he says okay this is this is actually

a positive thing

which is going in a in a sad and

dangerous direction right

so after this

he says all right to die to sleep to

sleep he's considering the ramifications

of this metaphor of dying is like

sleeping if it's being unconscious what

are some of the the things that we can

extrapolate from that so to die to sleep

to sleep

per chance to dream

hi there's the rub for in that sleep of

death What Dreams May Come when we have

shuffled off this Mortal coil must give

us pause

so in my opinion that's the next uh kind

of piece all together so he starts out

to die to sleep to sleep then we have

that repetition he's thinking about it

and then he stops he says per chance to

dream so in this analogy of dying is

like sleeping both are this level of

unconsciousness dreams dreams would be

to sleep as the afterlife would be to

death because once there's that

unconsciousness

there's something else uncontrollable on

the other side so when you sleep you

can't control your dreams they could be

wonderful they could be stressful they

could be nightmares and for Hamlet he is

concerned about what could happen after

death as well that he does not have that

control over but unlike people who can

wake from sleeping this is a permanent

situation

so he says okay yeah there's the there's

there's the rub there's the thing for in

that sleep of death What Dreams May Come

when we have shuffled off this Mortal

coil must give us pause and then there's

literally a pause in the Soliloquy to

emphasize that idea that he's stopping

he's thinking about what kind of

afterlife could exist once we have

shuffled out this Mortal coil again he

talks about life in these negative terms

that it's this

coil that is that is almost tightening

around him you can tell that he's he's

fed up with the difficulties that he's

faced if you're looking at the context

of the play as a whole that is the death

of his father that's his hated uncle's

rise to power that's his mother marrying

his uncle so quickly afterwards that's

the pressure of him needing to get

revenge

so he's he's considering all these

things so give us pause

there's the respect that makes Calamity

of so long life

he thinks

that he thinks that the the concern

about what happens after death is

largely what makes Calamity live so long

um make people stay in their calamities

for as long as they do

for who and then we get this whole list

of things that really do make life

difficult

um for who would bear the whips and

scorns of time this this kind of reminds

me of the the slings and arrows up here

but whips and scorns uh if I remember

correctly are actually fencing terms

like really quick fencing flicks so

again in terms of the play as a whole

that's a really cool connection

considering the end but if you haven't

read the whole play I will I will leave

you to that

um yeah so fencing terms but who would

bear the whips and scorns of time the

oppressor is wrong the proud man's

contumely so contumely is a word that we

don't use anymore obviously it looks

like an adverb but it's actually a noun

that means

um just arrogant Pride so you know this

this super silliest looking down your

nose at other people kind of arrogance

nobody likes that the pangs of despised

love so despised I I've seen that

spelled in a variety of ways and that's

pretty typical of shakes sphere because

of the different versions that exist out

there but

it could be just prized it could be

despised so that could mean undervalued

love that could mean love that is

scorned and turned aside he could be

thinking of Ophelia who stopped talking

to him and wouldn't say why various ways

that you can that you can look at the

pain he's describing there but love love

gone wrong love under valued by someone

the law is delay everybody hates that

the insolence of office so people who

are in official positions having this

kind of once again arrogance laziness

sense of entitlement

and the spurns that patient Merit of the

Unworthy takes this is probably my least

favorite line in the entire thing

because it's such a such a mouthful to

to say and to get your head around

um maybe it's just maybe it's just me

but the spurns that patient merits so

patient Merit that's one group of people

those who are patient those who have

Merit and they're taking all of these

spurns from the Unworthy so it's almost

like another aspect of prideful entitled

powerful people taking advantage of

those who who are more worthy of of that

power and recognition

so who who would who would put up with

all this nonsense when he himself might

his quietest make with a bear Bodkin

we have a couple 25 cent words here so

quietus means as maybe you can see the

footnote actually I think it's just out

of frame but it's the final settlement

of an account so you can make your final

settlement with a bear Bodkin a Bodkin

is a dagger so once again this so far in

the speech he's been leaning toward that

not to be

um because of the the pain of Life the

only thing that is giving him pause is

the uncertainty of the afterlife and

that is what he's going to return to

here

who would fartles bear

fartles is I shouldn't laugh I'm a grown

intelligent person but it's it means

burdens so who would Bear all of these

burdens to Grunt and sweat under a weary

life so there's

just very negative

um connotations thereof of slavery Etc

but that the dread of something after

death the Undiscovered Country from

who's born that's a boundary

no traveler returns puzzles the will

there's more to this speech I'm going to

turn the page in a second but let's deal

with this part of the question first

um obviously it is a question it starts

out with who who would put up with this

nonsense once again that's the that's

his big question but that the dread of

something after death the Undiscovered

Country

from who's born no traveler returns

puzzles the will so everyone is puzzled

by this this dread the uncertainty of

the Undiscovered Country of of death

it took me an embarrassingly long time

to realize that in the context of this

play at least Hamlet's father

comes back from the afterlife to speak

to him obviously I knew that that was

part of the plot but connecting that to

this speech makes it a little bit more

obscure is he still doubting the truth

of the ghost's word or is he just unsure

about where he would go and even even

his father doesn't get into any details

about purgatory where it seems like he

is

so let's turn the page here

there's not a whole lot left

and this book needs to be stretched out

so it puzzles the will that dread

and makes us rather bear those ills we

have then fly to others that we know not

of

so the devil you know is better than the

devil you don't is the idea there he

knows what he's up against here at this

time

but he doesn't know what he might be up

against should he

end his life now I want to balance this

whole speech out I personally there are

other speeches in Hamlet that I prefer

to the to be or not to be

um for a variety of reasons not least of

which is how dark this whole thing is

um but Hamlet has this wonderful moment

toward the end of the play he's it's not

all ponies and Roses at the end of the

play as far as his character development

goes he's not suddenly this very good

person necessarily but he has this

evolved idea of what life and death mean

to him and he concludes that the

Readiness is all it's the Readiness of

one's soul to die and he feels like his

soul is actually ready here obviously

there is not that kind of certainty that

kind of piece that comes with what we

hear from him later on

thus conscience does make cowards of us

all

this is a this is a tough line as well

so conscience that can be conscious that

can be actual conscience like the sense

of of right and wrong throughout this

play there's the understanding that

um it is it's wrong to

harm oneself because of the value of

each individual but but Hamlet

um resists that and questions it and and

struggles with it since ever since the

very first scene when we meet him so it

can mean conscience

um that is stopping him that makes

cowards of us all he feels like it's

cowardly to remain in his situation or

it can be Consciousness as well

depending on the way that you read it or

the version of the play that you have so

Consciousness makes cowards of us all

and thus the native Hue of resolution is

sick lead or with a pale cast of thought

throughout this entire play Hamlet is

overthinking for the most part until he

stops thinking altogether and gives away

his final brain cells sometimes

but he says okay there's this there's

this native hue

of resolution so so it's like a

a natural state the the color that we

ordinarily are that our minds are and

then over it there is this this

additional color that makes it kind of

sickly maybe a green

um and that it's the overthinking that

that sickly is the resolution resolution

being the the final decision and so he

is he's aware even in the moment that

he's doing it that he's

he tends to overthink in this case it is

a positive

type of thinking that he's doing but

he's uh he's obviously very upset

and Enterprises of great pitch and

moment

with this regard their currents turn

awry and lose the name of action

so even though this goes on a little bit

longer at this point he turns and

realizes that he's not alone in the room

that Ophelia has been watching him

actually this entire time and he

realizes later others are watching him

too but this still counts as a soliloquy

because he thinks he's alone until this

soft genome wait look over there there's

Ophelia

so Enterprises of great pitching moment

once again he's talking about that

taking his life into his hands

um with this regard their currents turn

awry and lose the name of action so we

have layers of metaphors going on here

there's the metaphor of of a sort of

color up here the Hue and then the it's

sickly door with this cast and then we

have great pitch and moment

um these Enterprises I've seen

a commentary or notes that referenced

falconing I believe this is the the top

most

um

point in the Flight of the bird and so

there's this height to what he's trying

to attempt but with this regard their

currents turn awry and I think what he's

talking about there is is thinking

too hard about consequences

and then they lose the name of action

so going back to the initial question of

the Soliloquy to be or not to be that is

the question he does end on the idea

that to be is better

but he's not very happy about that he

comes to he comes to terms with this

idea much more solidly later in the play

but here he basically

says you know I don't want to deal with

my with my problems I don't know what's

on the other side

um but just to just to leave you with

something that is not as horrible and

Bleak because obviously I've I've do not

support any of of the direction that

he's going here

um all of Shakespeare has the assumption

that the characters within that play

matter even if they decide not to go the

right way even if they decide to make

evil decisions even if they don't live

up to their potential there is this

sense of the great significance of

people and so when Hamlet's considering

all of this it's we're not supposed to

say oh well that's that's you know life

is life is meaningless it's true we're

meant to say no no

Hamlet this is this is so heartbreaking

um because things didn't have to to be

this way so there you go I hope you

enjoyed my Hamlet retelling Lair tees

which is a dark Academia retelling set

in the 1920s is available in ebook

paperback and hardcover if you want to

check that out if you're a hamlet fan

person like I am if you have any

questions about this um Soliloquy feel

free to put those down below I like to

hear from you so like this video if you

like it do not forget to subscribe for

more English nerdy goodness and I'll see

you next time bye