Like most Shakespeare, a single interpretation rarely does it justice. I think it ties in with Thompson's idea of either floating with the tide or swimming towards a goal very well. The soliloquy it is taken from is about Hamlet debating whether to avenge his father's murder (swimming) or not (tide), and whether to continue living (swimming), or just accept death (tide).
you have it reversed. The choice is whether to continue being tormented by all life's degradations and pains (floating) or end them yourself by committing suicide (swimming)
