Use of Diction in a Hamlet Monologue.
"To be or not to be that is the question." So begins one of the most famous monologues in the whole of Shakespeare's portfolio. The monologue did not win fame purely by chance. It is a deep, moving monologue that is written with such eloquence that a simple speech helps to convey several of the central themes behind the play. It is a wonder how Shakespeare, a true master of the English language uses his choice of words to help convey the central meaning of the whole play in a few short lines. Were a few choice words replaced with others which could easily serve the same purpose, the monologue would have easily lost all of its strength.
The very first words out of Hamlet's mouth are "To be, or not to be." It is interesting how he says not "To die, or to live." Rather, he asks very clearly, with great contemplation "To be, or not to be," the weight of the world resting on the question. This furthers the fact that he does not want to die, but rather, he wants to cease to exist all together. Death is not enough for him. He is in such torment, such hate for just about everything, that nothing less than complete removal from the universe is adequate.
Hamlet says "conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution; Is sicklied over with the pale cast of thought." In using the word "sicklied," the audience member is reminded of the state of Denmark, which hamlet has previously described as "an unweeded garden" (Shakespeare I.ii.144). This unweeded garden has been created by Claudius, the recently crowned king of Denmark, Hamlets uncle, and the murderer of previous king, Hamlet's father. Claudius does nothing except drink all day and night, perpetually at a party, draining "draughts of rhenish." With such behavior, it is no surprise that the kingdom has quickly fallen to shambles.
Ophelia, who has been in the room, but not immediately noticed by Hamlet, is suddenly recognized.