William Shakespeare's Hamlet contains many thrilling and memorable passages that enable the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the play's themes and conflicts. Arguably the most famous and celebrated soliloquy spoken by any of Shakespeare's characters is Hamlet's own "To be, or not to be," Scene3, Act 1. Hamlet pronounces this soliloquy in the midst of his tortured journey to avenge his father's death and to answer life's most complex questions. The haunting endurance of this particular passage demonstrates its ability not only to capture the essence of many of the play's themes but also to touch the inner chord of human thought.

The subject of death has been brutally thrust upon Hamlet by the shocking and premature passing of his father. Hamlet is tormented by the perplexing circumstances surrounding his father's end and literally haunted by his father's uneasy spirit. In an effort to uncover the truth...