The “To be or not to be” soliloquy should demonstrate that Hamlet is contemplating suicide due to the emotional distress that has befallen him. With this in mind, Richard Burton played the most compelling Hamlet out of the three options. Richards portrayal is convincing as he displays the characteristic human response an everyday person would endure in a similar situation. Hamlet battles stressful situations in numerous areas of his life. First from dealing with the death of his father whom he idolized, second from dealing with his mother moving on so quickly afterward, third to the confrontation with his father’s ghost, and fourth from being forced to commit a crime that goes against who he is. Richards Hamlet exhibits more energy and strength
