To be or not to be, that is the question...

The list of necessities before taking a plunge into this epic tale:

-Sweet Coffee
-Strawberry Jam Cookies
-An over-sized pillow
-An old, warm blanket 


The book resembles my dour mood on this cold and foggy day. 

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

How can we say that we have truly lived before delving into one of William Shakespeare's greatest tales?
A story of a love so deep, a pain so tragic, that it causes the demented meanderings of a once noble and great man.

But is it truly a sinister plot of betrayal and murder? Or is Hamlet an insane byproduct of a weak mind that snapped as easily as a fine thread of spun sugar? 

In this writer's humble opinion, he is a tragic hero. With a heart so pure and a mind so strong in spirit and will, that he never doubted the lingering suspicions cast upon his noble person. His incredibly agile and convoluted mind allowed him to ruminate and digress back and forth over every avenue of deceit. Unfortunately, his noble bearing, excellent swordsmanship and superb intellect were not enough to prevent the slow crippling of his mindset.

"To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, 
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to..."

His soliloquies give us pause. They make us stop and consider the underlying wisdom of his words. History has made him one of the most referenced characters of all time. Love him. Hate him. Call him names. Give him praise. He has stood the test of time. For generations before us and for further generations that succeed us, he will be a constant, unchanging reminder of tragedy, manipulation, flawed susceptibility, and defeat. 

The hero and the madman in us all.