In the “To be, or not to be” soliloquy,
Hamlet's decision not to kill himself comes
because of one main fact: no one knows what comes after death. He notes that death can be like sleeping (“To die, to sleep/To sleep, perchance to dream….”), but the dreams may be nightmares.
Why was Hamlet killed?
Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. The play ends with
a duel
, during which the King, Queen, Hamlet's opponent and Hamlet himself are all killed.
Why did Hamlet kill himself?
After his mother's wedding, Hamlet wants nothing more than just to die, but to commit suicide is
a sin in the eyes of God
. Thus, by committing suicide he would simply be damning himself to hell, which will also cause pain and suffering. Leading Hamlet to dismiss the thought and prolong his suffering.
How is Hamlet responsible for his own death?
Hamlet is responsible for
his downfall to the extent that his indecisiveness and inaction
, along with the actions of characters who conspired against him and events over which he had no control, contributed to his fateful and fatal end.
When did Hamlet want to kill himself?
Within his famous soliloquy in
Act 3, scene 1
, Hamlet presents the morality of choosing to end one's own life. He proposes the dilemma of choosing to commit suicide as an escape from life's troubles, or to live because of fear of the unknown.
How is the ending of Hamlet ironic?
Once Hamlet takes even the slightest sip, he will die
. He also tells Laertes that he will put poison on the end of Laertes's sword so that even if he just lightly scratches Hamlet, Hamlet will die. … Claudius's second plan to put poison on the sword also creates dramatic irony and situational irony.
Who all died in Hamlet?
First I listed out all the deaths in the play, noting that 9 of the 11 central characters die (in order,
King Hamlet, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Laertes, Gertrude, Claudius, and Prince Hamlet
all die, while Horatio and Young Fortinbras do not).
Is Ophelia pregnant in Hamlet?
Before we broached the concept of the possible pregnancy, the losses of her father and then Hamlet were the usual suspects. … So by the time of Hamlet's killing of Polonius and enforced departure for England,
Ophelia could have been anywhere between one and three months pregnant
.
Did Ophelia and Hamlet sleep together?
The text is ambiguous on whether or not Hamlet and Ophelia slept together. However,
it is clear that they were involved in some form of a romantic relationship
.
Did Hamlet really love Ophelia?
It is likely that
Hamlet really was in love with Ophelia
. Readers know Hamlet wrote love letters to Ophelia because she shows them to Polonius. … He professes his love for Ophelia again to Laertes, Gertrude, and Claudius after Ophelia has died, saying, “I loved Ophelia.
What is Hamlet's tragic flaw?
The word ‘tragic flaw' is taken from the Greek concept of Hamartia used by Greek philosopher Aristotle in his Poetics. Shakespeare's tragic hero Hamlet's fatal flaw is his failure to act immediately to kill Claudius, his uncle and murderer of his father. His tragic flaw is ‘
procrastination
‘.
Is Hamlet responsible for Ophelia's death?
Ophelia's death was triggered by her mental breakdown due to the loss of her father. In the midst of her inner turmoil, her depression worsens as she learns that Hamlet, the man she loves departs to England. …
Gertrude, The Queen of Denmark, is responsible for Ophelia's death
.
Is Hamlet to blame for the tragic ending?
In Shakespeare's play Hamlet the blame for
all the tragedies can be put on Claudius
. His evil nature created downfall for many of the characters in the play. The murder of the King, the decisions Claudius makes, and how he manipulates Laertes all lead to tragic events occurring.
Why does Ophelia want to break up with Hamlet?
Ophelia Timeline and Summary
1.3 Polonius and Laertes tell Ophelia that
Hamlet just wants to sleep with her
, and that she should break up with him. … He is cold, tells her he didn't love her, and then says, “Get thee to a nunnery.” Ophelia thinks he's gone totally bonkers and is justifiably upset by his behavior.
Why does Hamlet choose not to kill Claudius?
Hamlet delays killing Claudius
because Claudius represents Hamlet's innermost desires to sleep with his mother Gertrude
. … Hamlet may believe he is delaying from fear of sending Claudius to a “heavenly” afterlife; however, there are times when Hamlet could have killed Claudius when he was not at prayer.
What does Horatio say when Hamlet dies?
When Horatio says ‘
Now cracks a noble heart
,' he is almost certainly referring to his friend, Hamlet. … When Hamlet finally does die, Horatio is holding him, and gives him a farewell of infinite tenderness: ‘Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, / And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest' (5.2. 397-98).
