“What a man's work! How noble is reason! / How infinite it is in faculty! Fit and moving like / express and admirable! In action, like an angel! / In apprehension, like a God! The beauty of / the world! The animal model! And yet, what is this quintessence of dust for me? (Act 2, Scene 2) In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses the characters to examine the human condition and what it means to be human. The human condition is made up of experiences that every human being has, regardless of class, gender, or race. Throughout the play, Shakespeare attempts to answer what it means to be human. The answer to this question, according to Hamlet, is that humans constitute the ultimate paradox. Humans approach life with a bestial perspective, but they live in fear of the concept of death. The bestial outlook on life is manifested when Claudius murders King Hamlet, which becomes known when the ghost speaks to Hamlet. “The serpent that bit your father’s life / now wears his crown.” Claudius desired the throne, but he needed his brother's death to achieve his goal. This action is similar to what happens with animals when a new animal wants to overthrow the old leader, and shows that greed for power can overcome any family bond, an everyday human virtue. After learning this, Hamlet becomes determined to avenge his father's death. The famous soliloquy “To be or not to be” spoken by Hamlet in Act 3 (Scene 1), questions whether the concept of life is worth the problems people face or whether running from problems is worth it. “For who would endure the scourges and scorns of time/ The oppressors in their wrong, the scorns of the proud man/ The pains of despised love, the delay of the law,...” suggests that…. .. middle of paper... ...they lie in tombs and don't look any different at all. Shakespeare explores the human condition through the play and focuses on the conflict between life and death that Hamlet carries within him. Through this exploration, Shakespeare indicates that the meaning of being human is that humans are paradoxical creatures who want to live a good life, but fear the inevitable end of their lives. King Claudius shows the bestial nature of humanity when he murders his brother to gain the throne. Hamlet first discusses this conflict when he gives the soliloquy "To be or not to be" in which Hamlet determines that it is better to live and face problems, rather than die from fear of the unknown. In Act 2 of the play, Hamlet questions the complexity of man and how the deeds done in life don't help when the perpetrator is lying dead in the ground..