To Be or Not to Be

So often, Shakespeare encapsulated the most difficult, and the most profound topics in phrases that were destined (apparently) to become useful catch-phrases. For Hamlet, "to be or not to be" was a profound decision -- to keep himself alive, to succumb to suicide....and to the careful reader, the tricky question of true madness or acted madness underlies much of Hamlet's dilemma. The question itself, however, has taken on a life of its own, outside of the context of the play (even within the context of the play - just ask Mel Brooks!).

Hamlet is taught in high school, and the pain of its hero resonates well with teenage self-absorption and angst. But even unto adulthood, decisions may often be framed in the same: to (do) X, or not to (do) X formulation, and played out through an analysis of pros and cons for each option. Any change in lifestyle may be greeted with the famous "should I?  or shouldn't I?" question.

I once asked a group of eleventh graders to write their own dilemmas in the style of Hamlet's monologue. Here, I give you the best of the bunch (by Jasmine Kahn, who has no idea I kept her piece, let alone that it is now here):

To Love or Not To Love

To love or not to love - that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The pains and stings of unrequited love,
Or to suppress a sea of feelings
And, by denying, end them.  To lie, to hide -
To love no more - and by hiding, to say we end
The heartache that these feelings cause
Which lovers are often heirs to
When these feelings are not mutual.
To ignore, perchance to move on.  Ay, there's the rub
For in doing so, we know not what may have been.
When we have rid ourselves of this burning fire,
And thereby banish any chance that may have lain ahead.
For what other reason do lovers return
To the ones who have refused them time and again,
The pains of despised love,
If they could but walk away,
And be relived of all such troubles?
Who would fardels bear, to try and please a closed heart
But that the dread of missing the chance,
Forever asked "what if?"
Not knowing, this puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear the pain we feel inside
Then give up and never know.
Thus hope doth make cowards of us all.
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is shadowed by the pale thread of hope
That perhaps love may be achieved.
With this regard they keep going,
And persist in the name of love.

For Shakespeare purists, she has done a fine job of capturing his phrases.  As well as a remarkably mature job of presenting the romantic pain and futile hope that is unrequited love.  The Song of Songs may be more lush narrative (it is), but the idea that one can choose to abandon the love than confines is a challenge worth considering. If you knew your love would not be repaid in kind, would you keeping loving? Could you? Could you not?