1.Why does Hamlet raise the question of “to die or to live”?

It is natural for people to run away while facing huge pressure, and so is it to Hamlet. As mentioned, Hamlet is an indecisive man. He couldn’t bear what fate has imposed on him. Father’s death, mother’s remarriage and friend’s betrayal have all became a big burden for him. Hamlet knew that he was supposed to make things right and punish the evils. However, he just lacked the courage and determination. When it comes to this struggle in thought, he certainly resorted to suicide.

2.What is the significance of the conflicts in the play?

The main conflicts in Hamlet are that between Hamlet and Claudius and Hamlet and his mother. These are not just for the drama, but deeply reflect the reality in the society that there is a irreconcilable contradiction between the advanced humanistic ideal and the dark reality in United Kingdom.

3.Shakespeare is adept in portraying character’s inner world and to reveal the depth of a character through depicting the inner conflicts in his mind. What’s the inner conflict of Hamlet? What cause it?

First of all, the hatred between Hamlet and his uncle Claudius, the old King’s death, his mother’s remarriage, all these factors constitute the external conflict. And this causes Hamlet’s inner conflict which is the contrast between humanistic ideals and the cruel reality. Though Hamlet believe in humanism, it is just what he learns from books or it is just a fantasy. When he suddenly exposed to the nature of life which full of darkness and the cruelty, he collapse inside. In a world, the inner conflict of Hamlet is the psychological gap between the humanistic ideal and the harsh reality.