This question drives the entire play, as Hamlet grapples with:
* His own grief and sense of betrayal: He is deeply affected by the sudden death of his father and the subsequent marriage of his mother to his uncle.
* The moral dilemma of revenge: He is tasked with avenging his father, but he is also wrestling with the consequences of taking a life and the potential for more bloodshed.
* The uncertainty of the ghost's truth: He questions whether the ghost is actually his father or a demonic entity, leading to his own psychological turmoil and delay in action.
* The corruption of the Danish court: He confronts the moral decay and hypocrisy present within the royal family and the kingdom as a whole.
The play's resolution hinges on Hamlet's answer to this question, ultimately leading to a tragic outcome for him and many others.