To Blog Or Not To Blog

This blog focuses on an analyzation and reflection of Hamlet's famous speech, in addition to my opinion.

The focus of this website surrounds the central argument observed in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Hamlet's contemplation of life and death can also be considered the central argument of life itself for humans. Hamlet is faced with adversity in his life not much unlike many of us in our everyday lives. The decisions we make in an effort to deal with this adversity says a lot about who we are. Hamlet considers whether it is worth suffering through life's struggles "Or to take arms against the sea of troubles / And, by opposing, end them." (Shakespeare 3.1.66-67). Hamlet goes on to ponder about the afterlife and concludes that the reason we choose to live in pain instead of ending our lives is a fear of death. The uncertainty that comes with death is something that causes humans to fight through anything life throws at us.

I believe that this argument is very valid, however the very contemplation of life and death, as seen in Hamlet's character, can drive someone insane. Hamlet's desire to understand death consumes him and the uncertainty becomes unbearable. Although he reasons that a fear of death is cowardly, it is almost an unavoidable part of human nature. A point must be reached when humans decide to accept their inevitable death and not let it consume their minds. In my life, thinking about death only causes me to overlook the life in front of me. I become immobilized with fear and find myself wasting precious seconds worrying about something that cannot change. Hamlet is a model example of the danger of overthinking and his life should serve as warning for humans. Every second we spent thinking about death is a second we don't spend living.