Read the excerpt from an analysis of Hamlet’s "To be or not to be” speech in Act III of Hamlet . Shakespeare begins the speech with the line "To be, or not to be: that is the question” and then proceeds to ask multiple questions throughout the speech. When viewed through a formalist lens, the point of Shakespeare’s structure is to
Answer
A
emphasize Hamlet’s indecision that recurs throughout the play.
B
illustrate Hamlet’s confusion about his relationship with King Claudius.
C
contrast Hamlet’s speaking style with that of King Claudius.
D
introduce a new motif that focuses on the inevitability of death.
Explanation
A formalist reading focuses on how a text’s structure and language create meaning. The speech opens with a question and continues through a series of questions, a structure that highlights Hamlet’s inability to settle on a course of action. This reinforces his recurring indecision throughout the play, making “emphasize Hamlet’s indecision that recurs throughout the play” the best answer. The excerpt does not point to Claudius or to a newly introduced motif.
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