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Tom Hubsch Eng 102 Mr. Thomason Confusion and Reason: A Closed Reading of Hamlet, Act III, scene 1, lines 56-89 Halfway into Act 3, scene 1, Hamlet enters, speaking thoughtfully and agonizingly to himself about whether to commit suicide. The “To be, or not to be,” speech in the play portrays Hamlet as confused, indecisive, and an over thinker. This is why Hamlet seems very unsure of himself and often wavers between two extremes, confusion and reason. In the …

…of his over critical thoughts. In Hamlet’s speech he contemplates life and death in a very confused, indecisive, and critical way. He battles with two extremes and tries to reason with them both. His desire for revenge and his hesitance towards death eventually help his wondering mind and he concludes his dilemma. “To be, or not to be, that is the question” (56). The question is simple, but to Hamlet the answer is more complex.