The Shakespearean character known for the phrase "To be or not to be" is Hamlet, the protagonist of the play "Hamlet." This famous soliloquy reflects Hamlet's profound existential contemplation about life and death, highlighting his internal struggle with the moral implications of existence and the nature of being. The speech occurs in Act 3, Scene 1, where Hamlet weighs the pain and injustices of life against the uncertainty of death, ultimately questioning whether it is nobler to endure suffering or to take action against his troubles. Hamlet's brooding philosophical inquiry has made this passage iconic in literature.