To act or to die
‘To be or not to be’ is one of the most famous lines in English literature. This phrase is the opening line of a speech by the character Prince Hamlet from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. It reflects Hamlet’s deep existential contemplation and internal struggle.
For centuries, this simple yet captivating phrase has puzzled readers.
Is Hamlet considering ending his life? Is he contemplating whether it is better to live and endure life’s hardships or to end his life and thus put an end to his suffering? On a big, existential scale, yes, sure.
‘To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ‘tis 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.’
Is it about the pain and unfairness of existence? So many ideas in one sentence! It’s true that there’s not justice in life, and getting used to that fact saves us a lot of frustrations in the long run.
Does Hamlet weigh the sufferings and injustices of life against the fear and uncertainty of death and what comes after? Why not.
The beauty of literature is that the reader can take from it what they want. In fact, in many cases we may create a meaning that is more relevant to us than the words.
To me, on a very elementary level, Hamlet is saying ‘taking action or not is my “to be or not to be.”’ In other words, ‘if I don’t act, it means my death’. He is deeply affected by the murder of his father, the quick remarriage of his mother to his uncle (who he believes to be his father’s murderer), and his own feelings of powerlessness and frustration. He realises he has to do something and is pondering the consequences of what happens if he acts. And this is beautiful, as taking action is the essence of human existence.
Live and suffer or fight against troubles by ending your life – this sounds like cowardice to me. I prefer to interpret ‘taking arms against a sea of troubles’ as the decision to act. Taking action equals taking hold of your own fate, deciding for yourself about yourself. What happens to you is up to you. This is a strong guideline for every one of us.
Moreover, action gives life meaning. Standing up to injustice and taking risks can give our lives meaning. And meaning allows us to be satisfied, content, happy – despite life’s inherent challenges.