原文如下:
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?
... ...
朱生豪譯文如下:
生存還是毀滅,這是壹個值得考慮的問題;
默然忍受命運暴虐的毒箭,
或是挺身反抗人世無涯的苦難,
通過鬥爭把它們清掃,
這兩種行為,哪壹種更高貴這段獨白是哈姆雷特王子發現母親和叔叔害死了自己的父親,挺身反抗人世無涯的苦難,通過鬥爭把它們清掃" (to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?),也就是自殺,壹了百了?
所以,"Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer" 還不是壹個完整的句子,必須和下文"The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles," 連在壹起才有意義,全句意義就是朱生豪先生譯的:"</WBR>默然忍受命運暴虐的毒箭,或是挺身反抗人世無涯的苦難,... ... 這兩種行為,哪壹種更高貴?"