"To be, or not to be": Shakespeare Against Philosophy. (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wilson, Jeffrey R.
• Is Part Of: Shakespeare. Volume 14:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 341
• Page End: 359
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Shakespeare -- Hamlet -- Renaissance -- drama -- soliloquy -- philosophy -- ontology -- metaphysics -- madness -- acting; Periodicals; 822.33
• DOI: 10.1080/17450918.2017.1343376
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-0918

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This essay hazards a new reading of the most famous passage in Western literature: "To be, or not to be" from William Shakespeare's Hamlet . With this line, Hamlet poses his personal struggle, a question of life and death, as a metaphysical problem, as a question of existence and nothingness. However, "To be, or not to be" is not what it seems to be. It seems to be a representation of tragic angst, yet a consideration of the context of the speech reveals that "To be, or not to be" is actually a satire of philosophy and Shakespeare's representation of the theatricality of everyday life. In this essay, a close reading of the context and meaning of this passage leads into an attempt to formulate a Shakespearean image of philosophy.