Hamlet 1.3 - To be or not to be

Throughout the whole play, and from the very first line of Hamlet's soliloquy in act 3 scene 1, we know that Hamlet is struggling with something internally by him saying to himself, "To be or not to be - that is the question" (III.i.64).  This contributes to the overarching theme of the novel, as well as Hamlet's hamartia (or fatal flaw) because of the concept of action vs. inaction. Will Hamlet acctually take action and use the power of his own free will? Or will he remain passive and inactive and allow fate to take over?  In this passage he is questioning life and death.  Specifically, whether he wants to continue on living his life in pain, or to end his life to end his endless conflict, "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer/The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,/Or to take arms against a sea of troubles" (III.i.65-67).  Through these specific lines, large aspects of Hamlet's character are portrayed.  He is obviously very dark and depressed because of his serious contemplation of suicide. However, on the other hand, has not fully spiraled down to the level of pessimism that would allow him to take his own life.  Through this we learn how complex of a charcter that Hamlet is.  As the soliloquy is coming to an end, Hamlet says "Thus conscience does not make cowards (of us all,)/And thus the native hue of resolution/Is (sicklied) o'er with the pale cast of thought" (III.i.91-93), suggesting that his conscience is the main reason that he cannot seem to come to a final conclusion on whether to be or not to be.  During the whole play there are traces of uncertainty in the paths of life, linking to fate and free will.  This specific quote says that although we have free will and are able to make our own choices, fate within our consciences, telling us what is right and wrong, ends up determining a large part of how we live our lives.  Hamlet's soliloquy touches upon many overarching themes of the novel, and does a great job leading into the rest of the events to come in the tragedy.