"To be, or not to be, / that is the question" (III.i.63).
Why is this (arguably) the most famous line in all of English literature? Why has this line been so resonant and memorable for readers? What does the line connote for you or evoke from you?
Also, "Hyper Hamlet" is a fantastic site that has attempted to create a record of every time allusions to lines from Hamlet have been made. Look up "To be or not to be" and check out how many allusions others have made to these words! Extra Credit if you post about your favorite allusion to the line!
http://www.hyperhamlet.unibas.ch/index.php/hyperhamlet/hh2
*Please post your answer as a COMMENT to this post!
I believe "To be, or not to be, / that is the question" is the most famous line in English literature because it can have many different meanings. Words can be added or changed to fit a different topic such as "To eat, or not to eat." This line has probably been most memorable to readers because everyone knows about it and has passed it on to others who repeat the process, whether in speech or writing. To me, this line simply means if a certain choice is the right one - "Is it worth it?"
ReplyDeleteI looked through the HyperHamlet website and I liked a few such as the Facebook Dilemma: To Friend or Not To Friend? My favorite one would have to be from Koser, Brian (2005) - "To Be or Not To Be? Is There a Third Option?"
"To be, or not to be, / that is the question" (III.i.63) is the most famous line in English literature because it is a general question that not only connects to all of the themes of the play, but also connects to all parts of life. This line is about life and death, wanting to know the truth, and turning words into action. These are all things that every "being" must go through in life. This small phrase has a huge impact it questions the worth of life, and in addition to what Nathalie said, it can question the worth of anything because of Shakespeare's diction. This line makes me weigh my options every time I read it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite allusion to this line was "To Think or Not to Think" because it questions whether one should think logically all the time or go with their "gut feeling." This line was interesting because no one can avoid going through this dilemma. This allusion proves that decision making can be difficult at times and it also sparks a question within the reader's mind as he/she tries to choose the better option.
"To be or not to be”(III.i.63) is probably the most important line in the English language because existence is being put into question with the use of only 6 words. To live or to die is the big question here which is also one of the most important themes in Hamlet where we can see Hamlet's uncertainty about life.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite allusion from hyperHamlet's website was to To be or not to be, " Happiness or misery?”- Jordan Henry J. I really like this line because I think most of the times we don't realize that whether we are happy or not depends on us. We choose whether we want to be happy or not with our actions and decisions.
"To be, or not to be, / that is the question" (III.i.63).
ReplyDeleteThis line from Hamlet is the most famous line in the English language. I believe that Shakespeare placed this line at the peak of Hamlet for a reason. This line clearly demonstrates Hamlet's indecisiveness in the play. He is stuck wanting Ophelia and killing Claudius. This line connects to a theme in Hamlet which is death. I think that Hamlet is demonstrating to his readers that if he wants to "suffer", "die" or "live.
My favorite allusion from hyper hamlet is "to find or not to find out." I like this one because it shows how curious someone can be but the impact of finding something out.
"To be, or not to be/ that is the question" (III.i.63)
ReplyDeleteI think that this line from Hamlet probably is one of the most famous, if not the most famous line of English literature. I think the line is so famous just for the simple facts that it is both catchy and it could be used in many everyday situations. Every time I think of this line I picture it being said overly dramatic because play writers usually convey it that way. "To be, or not to be" in the play shows Hamlet's uncertainty. I think it can connect to many people's everyday lives with a broad range from small decisions like "Should I do my homework" to large decisions like "Should I follow my dream to become an actor or take the safe road". It is just a question that we face everyday of our lives so it would make sense that it is easily connected to other works of literature.
My favorite allusion from Hamlet would have to be "Or to take arms against a sea of troubles"(III.i.68). I like the idea of thinking that a sea with waves and storms are troubles like we have in our lives. It is interesting to think of the sea as a person facing troubles.
"To be, or not to be,/ that is the question" (III.i.63).
ReplyDeleteThis well known line of Shakespeare has earned its spot as one of the most alluded to lines in English writing for its brevity and power. Although the line is only 10 words long, it captures the essence of Hamlet's conflict without compromising its effectiveness.
The syntax of the sentence also makes it easy to adapt the sentence to accommodate any other person's message. My favorite example of an allusion to the line was "To Think or Not to Think," which I'm assuming has to deal with contemplating actions or analyzing thoughts or actions, both of which sound interesting.
Very interesting ideas here! Several of you mention the line's flexibility (John even referred to its syntax!) and I think you're absolutely right that this is part of why it is so famous. I think Janelle also is on to something when she says, "This line is about life and death, wanting to know the truth, and turning words into action. These are all things that every "being" must go through in life." Insightful!
ReplyDelete"To be, or not to be,that is the question" (III.i.63).
ReplyDeleteThis statement; as simple as it is, has a very profound meaning behind it. it is an "either or" choice. Not only is this statement flexible but its original usage will always stay in tact. It was used by Hamlet to bring out "to be dead, or not to be dead" when he was looking for his father in the body of the dead. The fact that its the most famous statement in literature yet, to me, its one of the most strongest impacted statements in language. Yes or no, to be or not to be. THAT is the question. You cant get any more simpler.
My favorite allusion SO FAR from the hyperhamlet.com website would be "Must give us pause: there's the respect". I actually thought this had a rash tone. But from what I got from it was when speaking, always give a pause. It will not only baffle the audience but have them put more emphasis in paying attention to what your saying.
"To be, or not to be,that is the question" (III.i.63).
ReplyDeleteI believe this statement is such a famous line in all of English literature because it catches the readers attention. This line can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Anyone can replace "be" in this statement and it will still mean one or the other. In this situation, Hamlet questions whether he commits suicide or not, or To live or not to live. He thinks about two paths that his life could go to, like making decisions which is what life is all about.
My favorite allusion of this statement would be "To stop or not to stop." This allusion can refer to anything in life. Similar to "To be or not to be", this allusion questions the future of some sort of action. You could keep doing whatever you want (nonstop) or stop doing it, whatever it is, it can change what will happen next.
"To be, or not to be,/ that is the question" (III.i.63).
ReplyDeleteWell this line is one of the most famous lines in English literature. This statement is a universal theme in an on going battle in a person's mind. I believe it is a state of consiousness where you are fighting you inner emotins over any situation. Shakespeare used this line in Hamlet to reflect on a suicidal state of mind, but in reality it is a question that can concern everyday decisions that people go through. Writers decide to use it in their text and directors in thier movies because "to be or not to be" occurs at least once in very humans life, where that on going battle of thought occurs and a rational or irrational decision has to occur. I can relate to this statement from the perspective of a highschool senior entering college.
My favorite allusion of this statement would be "to pee or not to pee" because it is something I think about everyday. This may be a little ackward but I pee like three times a day exactly, no more or no less. One thing about me is that I truely dislike using public bathrooms, especially the school bathroom and no matter what, I end up running home after volleyball practice and barely making it to the bathroom. But on the days when I have a little too much juice I have to make a rational decision whether I can make it home without peeing myself, so I stand near the bathroom and question whether "to pee or not to pee".
(Hahahaaaaa Mel-lisa and Kevin, ohh mann. I really like how you guys all related this to your personal lives, some more than others.)
ReplyDelete"To be or not to be" may be one of the most famous lines in literature because, like mentioned above, it can be applied to anything in life, specially the choices we contemplate daily. When Hamlet states this line he's questioning his life and whether all his burdens are worth staying alive or being tormented in Hell for commiting suicide; it almost seems like both decisions suck, but then again, it is life.
Tubby or not tubby there's the rub,
Whether I shall get anything to scrub,
Or, overcome by all my numerous troubles,
Dive headlong down into that sea of bubbles --F. C. Bernard
This is one of my favorite allusions to Hamlet because I like how the author changed the words a bit and still sound the same (assonance). Also, I like the rhyming since it makes the poem sound happy and child like, even though it talks about overcoming problems. It's kind of nice when you can relate to a poem dealing with troubles and yet it can lighten the mood with a simple rhyme.
"To be, or not to be,/That is the question" (III.i.63)
ReplyDeleteThis line would have to be the most famous line in English literature because it is a question that everyone must refer to everyday of thier lives. Although this line refers to life and death, people will mainly question everything they do on a day to day basis; it'a apart of life. For example, I will automatically deliberate if I should call someone or not - to call or not to call. It's a question that I would think over and over. Usually I come up with an answer, but it takes a while. This is a line where no one would automatically know that they are using it, but when they think it over, they realize that they have been doing it all along.
My favorite allusion statement would have to be "To Be or Not to Be a Virgin"- de Lys, Claudia. This happens to be my favorite allusions because it is something that many teenagers, especially, have to go through. We are not always convinced by our peers, but living in America, we are forced to experience any typed of sexual activity including the conversations we here and the shows we watch. Staying a virgin is a hard thing to do, but I encourage people to do so and not to be dragged into having sex. You have all the time in the world to wait.
To be,or not to be,that is the question" (3.1.63)
ReplyDeleteThis line is so prominent in the English language simply because people either admire or detest it. If someone likes it, they’ll spread the love; if they hate it, they’ll spread the hate. Like Nathalie and others have said, this line can have an assortment of meanings depending on how one decides to interpret it. This line, to a certain extent, is one we can all relate to; all of us at some point in our lives will long for a say in our existence. Ultimately, we will come across making important decisions where we will find ourselves reiterating these same lines.
In Hyper Hamlet, the allusion that stood out for me was “To Be or Not to Be a Virgin.” People have strong opinions concerning whether or not they will stay a virgin. Some are obligated to save themselves until marriage because of their religious beliefs. Others may simply decide they aren’t ready or don’t want to deal with the consequences that it may bring. Questions like “When is the right time” or “Am I making the right choice?” often ignite comprehensive discussion. This is a subject that can be uneasy for a class to discuss simply because it may not be appropriate. But we’re in an AP class and I’m sure that in college we’ll have similar, if not worse, discussions. Besides, it is a common theme in early works of literature. I know everyone saw the allusion and were just waiting for someone to bring it up. You’re welcome.
P.S. Ellen you beat me to it, but I was writing this for a while.
"To be, or not to be, / that is the question" (III.i.63).
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this is the most famous line in english literature because it can simply apply to anything we want to apply it to. Ofcourse I have herd this phrase being used many times but whenever I herd it, it was used in different ways to mean different things. I never knew it came from Shakespeare or that it's original purpose had to do with life and death. Now that I know it comes from shakespeare and that Shakespeare used it in the meaning of "to live or not to live" I can now say that, that is a question most of us will eventually ask ourselves during hard times. What is the purpose of living? Why do we still go on living when we have the choice of death? We always have that option but most of us don't take it simply because we are afraid of what the other side may hold. Similar to hamlet when he falls under depression, he doesn't kill himself because he is afraid of what's to come after he ends his life.
In hyper hamlet my favorite used allusion was "to buy or not to buy".
Being the indecisive person that I am, I'm faced with this question probably ten times a day. Wether it comes to buying a candy bar, bottle of water, or a simple bag of chips. Especially when I go shopping I probably ask myself that question about 20 times per outfit
"To be, or not to be, / that is the question" (III.i.63).
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is the most famous line in the english language because it deals with everything Hamlet is going through and thinking about at that point. In the wake of his father's death, he is probably thinking whether he should kill himself or not? Now shakespeare had the ability to convey such a heavy thought in an everyday english word an by using one of the most basic verbs in english (to be). Reading this line alone would not tell you however what shakespeare really meant until you go further into hamlet's soliloquy when he uses imagery that reveals to the reader what he is wrestling with and the fact that shakespeare was able to write something that a lot of people think about in 6 words is why i think it is so famous.
I agree with angela as my favorite allusion was also "to buy or not to buy" because when i go shopping, i as a teenager don't have all the money in the world so when i have to spend my money on something i really think about whether it is worth it. I have to consider all opportunity cost and i may even go back home still thinking whether i should have bought whatever it is i wanted to buy.
" to be or / not to be " (iii.63)
ReplyDeleteI believe this is on of the most famous lines in the English language because this statement is a simple one but can mean all types of dfferent things, people interpet it anyway they want. This statement is studied and interpeted in all kinds of ways. In Hamlets case, shakespease used this lone to show his undecisive and unstable Hamlet is. Hamelt is overwhelmed with stress and his different thoughts and feelings and whether to commit sucide or not. Many people face the same quesion every day . Also i think this statement means whether for him to be or strong or to give up and his thinking about what would happen after his death ( sucide) .
In hyper hamelt my favorite allusion is " to think or not to think " because in reality you dio chose whether to think an do right or to not think and do wrong.
"To be/or not to be(iii.63)
ReplyDeleteI think that this is one of the most famous lines of this play because it has so much meaning. Its like contemplating between life and death. " To live, or not to live" Hamlet wants to commit suicide. And also because this quote is so timeless that it can be used and relevant to any literatur topic. Hamlet isnt exactly an adult, probably about 18 or 19, and those are some of the most emotional years, in limbo between adulthood and child-years.
My favorite hyperhamlet allusion is "To Friend, Or not To friend". Before befriending someone, you do want to ask yourself, Should I be his/her friend? Some people arent fit for friends and you dont want to make friends with the wrong person.
"To be, or not to be,/That is the question" (III.i.63)
ReplyDeleteThis line seems to be so famous because it sums up really what the play boils down to, what the readers want to know: will Hamlet act or not? That is our question. And seeing as Hamlet is considered one of the best peices of literature in the english language, that helps. However, what also would help is, out of the context of hamlet, this line can be applied to any situation. The fact that whatever we do in life, we need to make a choice. We are faced with decisions and choices every day of our life whether they are big ones or small ones. It's a matter of deciding, "yes" or "no." This is what the line says to me, in the end we all have to make choices.
My favorite Hyper Hamlet Allusion is from The Twelve Chairs:
[Ostap Bender:] Now listen old man, pride is a luxury that neither you nor I can afford at this time in our lives. We need thirty rubels to make our dreams come true. It's sink or swim. I choose swim. Now, to beg, or not to beg, that is the question.
I thought it was really funny because these guys needs 30 rubles to make their dreams come true and in that case, begging would be their way to obtain it. But it will cost them their pride which they can't afford. He needs to decide if he wants to beg or not, that is their choice. But in reality the fact that he'll beg in order to obtain his dream is something to be prideful in. After all, it's for the sake of a dream.
I agree Ashley--I think you're really getting at something when you say "...whatever we do in life, we need to make a choice. We are faced with decisions and choices every day of our life whether they are big ones or small ones." So true, and I think this is definitely a part of why this line (and this play) is so famous. Uncertainty is a universal part of life. And Bouba--love your noticing of "to be" as such a fundamental, basic verb!
ReplyDelete