In Act III, Scene i, what does Hamlet mean when he says “to be, or not to be, that is the question”? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

In Act III, Scene i of Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the famous line "to be, or not to be, that is the question" is spoken by Hamlet himself. This soliloquy reflects Hamlet's contemplation on the nature of life and death, and whether it is better to exist or to cease existing.

To understand the meaning behind this line, we can analyze the context and the subsequent lines in the soliloquy. In the preceding lines, Hamlet expresses his frustration with the burdens of life, stating, "To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub, for in that sleep of death what dreams may come." Here, he ponders the possibility of finding peace and release from the troubles of life through death.

When Hamlet says "to be, or not to be, that is the question," he is essentially contemplating the pros and cons of continuing to live or choosing to end his own life. He is questioning whether it is better to endure the hardships and sufferings of life or to escape them through death. This line encapsulates the existential dilemma that Hamlet faces throughout the play.

The evidence from the text that supports this interpretation is the subsequent lines in the soliloquy. Hamlet goes on to discuss the various troubles and sufferings that people endure in life, such as the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" and the "whips and scorns of time." He contemplates the fear of the unknown after death, wondering what lies beyond and whether it is worse than the current state of existence.

Overall, Hamlet's famous line "to be, or not to be, that is the question" reflects his deep contemplation on the meaning of life and the choice between continuing to endure its hardships or seeking release through death.