"To die, To sleep, - To sleep! .........That makes calamity of so long life;" - Critically comment on passages.

Critically comment on the following passages with reference to the context, in not more than 150 words each: 


"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;"

Answer - This passage is from Hamlet's famous soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Hamlet. In this moment of profound introspection, Hamlet contemplates the nature of life and death. He compares death to sleep, suggesting that death might be a peaceful escape from the pains and struggles of life. However, the phrase "To sleep! Perchance to dream: - ay, there's the rub" introduces uncertainty. Hamlet acknowledges that in the "sleep" of death, one might dream, and these dreams are unknown and potentially troubling.

The line "For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause" reflects Hamlet's fear of the unknown afterlife. This fear of what lies beyond death, the dreams that may come, causes him to hesitate and reconsider the idea of ending his life. The passage highlights the existential dilemma Hamlet faces—whether to endure the suffering of life or to risk the uncertainty of death. This soliloquy captures the essence of Hamlet's inner turmoil and philosophical reflection on mortality, making it one of the most profound and poignant moments in the play.


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