Hamlet's Speech Analysis (to be or not to be)

Hamlet’s speech in the middle of the play holds significance to several proportions: not only does it indicate a shift within a play, but it also focuses on Hamlet’s personal opinion of man’s significance to the external world. Hamlet describes death as an escape from the body as he states, “For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, / Must give us pause” (III.i.74-76). Hamlet’s rationalization exposes itself as he attempts to explain the significance of consciousness as compared to the physical body. According to Hamlet, the body serves as a barrier that prevents the conscious from drifting off and being free. Regardless of dealing with “outrageous fortune” (III.i.66) or “take arms against a sea of troubles” (III.i.67), Hamlet’s justification for death suits his desire “To die, to sleep— / To sleep, perchance to dream”, rather than exposing himself to the yin yang of life (III.i.72-73). One’s significance to the world is measured by a clear indifference to the hostile world along with an individualistic approach to understand one’s consciousness. Reaching this stage, according to Hamlet, is achievable through death alone since he suggests that our unconscious desires are obtained through the passage from life to death. Only in death are we able to assess ourselves while disregarding any external conflicts.