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Shakespeare's Monologues

Hamlet

Hamlet: Act 3, Scene 1

Monologue

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 end

The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. 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 despis'd love, the law's delay,

The insolance 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 these fardels bear,

To grunt and sweat under a weary life,

But that the dread of something after death-

The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn

Not traveller returns- puzzles the will,

And make 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 enterprises of great pith 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 rememb'red.

Scored Monologue

Number of syllables Scored text Meaning of beat
10 To be or not to be - that is the question: [Beginning of beat 1] to find an answer
10 Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer  
12 The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune  
10 Or to take arms against a sea of troubles  
10 And by opposing end them. To die- to sleep  
10 No  more; and by a sleep to say we end  
10 The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks  
10 That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation  
10 Devoutly to be wish'd. To die- to sleep. [End of beat 1]
10 To sleep- perchance to dream: ay there's the rub! [Beginning of beat 2] to madden
10 For in that sleep of death what dreams may come  
10 When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,  
8 Must give us pause. There's the respect  
10 That makes calamity of so long life. [End of beat 2]
10 For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, [Beginning of beat 3] to reason
10 Th' oppressor's wrong the proud man's contumely,  
10 The pangs of despis'd love, the law's delay,  
10 The insolence of office, and the spurns  
10 That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,  
10 When he himself might his quietus make  
10 With bare bodkin? Who would these fardels bear,  
10 To grunt and sweat under a wearlife, [End of beat 3]
10 But that the dread of something after death- [Beginning of beat 4] to realize
10 The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn  
10 No traveller returns- puzzles the will,  
10 And makes us rather bear those ills we have  
10 Than fly to others that we know not of?  
10 Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,  
10 And thus the native hue of resolution  
10 Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,  
10 And enterprises of great pith and moment  
10 With this regard their currents turn awry  
10 And lose the name of action.- Soft you now!  

12

The fair Ophelia!- Nymph, in thy orisons

 

8 Be all my sins rememb'red. [End of beat 4 and monologue]

 

 

Definitions from David & Ben Crystal / Shakespeare's Words are under copyright, and may not be used without their express permission. All other definitions are from sources in the public domain.
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