Ms. Shruti Pandey, Assistant Professor, SLLS, JNU

We live in a conflict-ridden world at an individual, social, cultural, and political level. Conflict has been a theme in literature since time immemorial. Conflict takes innumerable forms in Shakespeare's plays, and it would be impossible to list them all. Conflict in his play is not only an external thing but often a process within one individual. Macbeth and Hamlet are good examples of that. An internal drama takes place in the minds of both characters; there are choices to be made and the conflict is between and among those choices. Just what to do is always the question. Shakespeare's Hamlet's Soliloquy is a moving depiction of the struggle inherent in the human condition. The internal struggle escalates as the play progresses.

"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 the sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them? To die: to sleep;"

The fact that Hamlet is still seen as a classic is due to the fact that it has a lot of internal conflicts. Conflicts are caused by the way people think about things, and they lead to disaster at the same time. The characters' external and internal problems are just as important as the problems they have with other people. Three characters who especially exhibit this are Hamlet, Ophelia, and Claudius. The disagreements cannot be easily resolved. The character's own determination and sense of personal accountability are the sole sources of hope for success, but they also pose the greatest risk. Shakespeare conveys that each character faces a dilemma for which there are no simple solutions. While inaction might be fatal, action may not always be what it seems. Shakespeare demonstrates a sense of instability and absurdity in human life.

William Shakespeare's Hamlet is the epitome of existential conflict. He is a dynamic character who speaks from the deepest sense of fear and denial. By internalizing the lessons of Hamlet in the 21st century, men are more likely to understand the adversity of their lives. By understanding Hamlet, a man can understand himself. Such insights confirm that Shakespeare's tragedy is not only about tragedy but rather the tragedy of a common man, sharing modern consciousness beyond time and space. It is of utmost importance that we take Shakespeare out of the classroom and make students connect with his literary legacy at a social, cultural, and political level.

The Shakespeare Declamation at Jaipur National University is a great step in this direction. It lets students get close to Shakespeare's work by acting out several of his monologues and figuring out what each one means in today's world. This is one way to acquaint students with the literary tradition of a writer and its varied influences. Shakespeare remains a timeless mystery in the abundance of literature, and the more we attempt to explore him, the more we tend to dive into an unfathomable search of self.