Hamlet

We had to learn the famous "to be or not to be" speech from Hamlet for this session, which I wasn't really looking forward to in all honesty! I do enjoy Shakespeare though I find the language quite difficult to understand at times and I find it much harder to memorise than modern-day language.
I have a basic understanding of the plot of Hamlet, and I was familiar with the first section of this speech after using it as stimulus for a show I devised with Ruth Brown and Natalie Sugars last year. Reading further into the speech I realised there were a few words I did not know, so I looked them up so that I could gain a better understanding of the overall text.


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. To die, to sleep--

No more--and by a sleep to say we end

The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep--

To sleep--perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub,

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause. There's the respect

That makes calamity of so long life.

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,

Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely

The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,

The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make

With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,

To grunt and sweat under a weary life,

But that the dread of something after death,

The undiscovered country, from whose bourn

No traveller returns, puzzles the will,

And makes us rather bear those ills we have

Than fly to others that we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,

And thus the native hue of resolution

Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,

And enterprise of great pitch and moment

With this regard their currents turn awry

And lose the name of action. -- Soft you now,

The fair Ophelia! -- Nymph, in thy orisons

Be all my sins remembered.

Contumely: Rudeness or contempt arising from arrogance; insolence.

Quietus: Release from life; death/A final discharge, as of a duty or debt.

Fardels: A pack; a bundle/A burden.

Orison: A prayer.

- www.thefreedictionary.com


I felt a lot more confident performing this once I had understood the meaning behind it. I tried to perform this as though I was contemplating suicide and getting to grips with the concept of life after death - or rather nothing after death. I performed this sat quietly in the corner of the room with the audience sat closely around in a semi-circle. I felt this gave me the opportunity to connect more with the audience as I was able to speak quietly, at a 'normal' level, and directly to them. I felt that creating a smaller, quieter atmosphere worked better for me - with my understanding of the speech - as I thought using a grand, traditional Shakespearian style would take away the intimacy of sharing such a deep routed thought.
I think my speech went down quite well this session and I felt quite proud of myself for being the only one to learn the speech off by heart.