To be or not to be... that is not a question

Arguably, the most renowned play in existence is Shakespeare's Hamlet. The play is known for not only its merit (which is great), but also for a number of famous lines from it. The most famous perhaps is to be the subject of today's haiku:

To be or not to
Be would be more a question
With a question mark


There are several existing misconceptions about this scene, and please excuse me for rambling if I do so, but I get very irritated when people misinterpret texts that are over 400 years old (which rarely ever happens). First of all, "to be or not to be" is not a formal question. If you put a question mark at the end, making it "to be or not to be?" that would be a question. Seriously Shakespeare, learn English (Although it is a known fact that William would bomb his SATs.... "no, Collegeboard, I swear, that IS a word.. no I did not make it up.... well.... maybe a little."). Secondly, the "To be or not to be" monologue was NOT done with a skull. The skull was from a later scene (the "Alas, poor Yorick" one to be precise) and a different monologue. The skull being used in that scene originated in Mel Gibson's version (and we should all know by now that Gibson NEVER fabricates information for the purpose of a quality film...).

Thirdly is perhaps the greatest misconception, although it is really an argument rather than a misconception. There are two interpretations of Hamlet's line "to be or not to be." The first is the most widely accepted one which is "to live or to die." However Hamlet earlier states that he would never kill himself as it is an offense to God. The second is "to act or not to act." This one makes significantly more sense, considering that the issue Simba faces through the entire play is not whether to kill himself, but rather whether or not to kill Scar... I mean Claudius.

Wow I'm rambling... I did warn you though... This post does not pass for being funny enough. I shall give you one more haiku to compensate, and promise you that tomorrow's post will be back to the same old hilarities.

Shakespeare alteréd
Words t'adjust syllables for
His own needs. Me too.
(pretend that the accent up there is backwards)