Final answer:
Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' does not explicitly answer the philosophical question of the reason for existence; the character Hamlet's contemplative soliloquies, including the existential quandary in 'To be, or not to be', are reflective but inconclusive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns whether Shakespeare or the character Hamlet in the play 'Hamlet' provides an answer to the reason for existence. Considering the nuance and depth of Shakespeare's work, the answer leans toward choice b) No, the play doesn't explicitly answer this philosophical question. Hamlet's musings and soliloquies, especially the famous "To be, or not to be" speech, contemplate the nature of existence and life's struggles, but they do not provide a conclusive answer. The themes in 'Hamlet' are complex, and the character's reflections are introspective but do not resolve to a clear philosophical stance on the purpose of existence. As T.S. Eliot points out, Hamlet's 'madness' and actions, informed by his personal turmoil and the ambiguous motives of other characters—especially regarding his mother's guilt—compound the overarching enigma of the play rather than clarifying a single, existential truth.