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The stock answer is that it is about suicide. The problem is that it doesn't make any sense as being Hamlet contemplating doing away with himself. The speech is not phrased as being about Hamlet personally--the words "I", "me" and "my" do not appear in it. Instead it is "we", "us" and "our". Hamlet has already dismissed the idea of suicide for himself in Act 1, and he has just finished deciding on vigorous action just before giving this speech. He is not in a suicidal mood.

It seems to be more of a specualtion about why people are "patient Grissels" instead of trying to do something about the miseries of their life, even by committing suicide ("their own quietus make with a bare bodkin"). He comes to the conclusion that the fear of death makes cowards of people generally, making them suffer rather than do something that would change their condition.

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Q: What is the theme in Hamlet Act 3 scene 1 to be or not to be?
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