Question

Read the excerpt from Act III of Hamlet.

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of dispriz’d love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin?



Based on this part of the soliloquy, which best describes Hamlet’s perception of life?


(a)He believes that life is too long and boring.

(b)He believes that life is fun and interesting.

(c)He believes that life is full of pain and suffering.

(d)He believes that life is full of joy and excitement.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. He believes that life is full of pain and suffering.

Hamlet is disturbed about the state of affairs in his own life - his father is dead, his mother remarried almost immediately, and he is completely unhappy. He doesn't understand why he is still living when everything is sad and wrong. Therefore he is contemplating suicide, although in the end he doesn't kill himself (but is killed nevertheless).