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The ambiguity of hamlet
Interpretation of hamlet
Literary analysis of shakespeare
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During class we have reviewed many versions of the play Hamlet. The two movie versions that I chose to compare on the play Hamlet are the David Tennant version and the Kenneth Branagh version. I chose these two versions because these were the two that most interested me. I believe that some scenes from each movie were better than the other, but overall I liked these two versions just as equally. The three main scenes that stood out to me that I will be comparing are ‘Ophelia’s Mad Scene’, the ‘Hamlet Kills Polonius’ scene, and Hamlet’s ‘To be or not to be’ scene. Let’s first compare Ophelia’s mad scene, starting with David Tennant’s version. In David Tennant’s version of the scene, Ophelia starts out singing softly to the Queen, Hamlet’s mother, and the King, Hamlet’s father’s brother. …show more content…
Both the Tennant and the Branagh version repeat the same soliloquy from the original Hamlet. However they are in different settings with different characters present. They also both speak in a slightly different tone in this speech. In Tennant’s version, Hamlet seemed more sad when giving the speech compared to Branagh’s version, who seemed more calm and relaxed. The Hamlet in Branagh’s version was holding a knife up to the mirror, looking as if he was debating or not to end his life, while the Hamlet in Tennant’s version was just staring off into the distance. They were both in a room, but the Hamlet in Branagh was looking into a mirror. Hamlet in Tennant’s version was by himself, while in Branagh’s version, there were two characters present behind the two-way mirror. I liked Branagh’s version more than Tennant’s version in this scene, because Hamlet’s character I feel fit the speech. It made it seem more interesting to me. With Tennant’s version, I feel it was a little boring because he was not really doing anything, just looking from behind a wall. This is why I like Branagh’s version better in this
1. In this specific version of Hamlet there are various characters that demonstrate an exaggerative and dramatic persona; Brain Blessed chose to interpret the role of the ghost in the traditional eerie, spooky, and mysterious manner. He does this by being portrayed as a reoccurring pale figure that is only visible to certain people (the traditional characteristics for a ghost). Also he does this by deepening his voice to sound more frightening. In my opinion, I do not think that the performance of the apparition was believable in any scenes in which it appeared simply because I do not think that something that does not exist in reality can be displayed realistically. Moreover and in contrast, I believe
William Shakespeare’s plays included different characters and different methods of characterization. The two plays that will be compared and contrasted are William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet. As for the characters from each play, Beatrice, Benedict, Don John, Don Pedro, Claudio, and Hero will be assessed from Much Ado About Nothing and from Hamlet, Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Laertes, and Ophelia. The importance of the above characters from each play is that they serve as the basis for identifying characteristics.
Hamlet and Lion King are the same and different in many differents ways. Some ways that they are the same is that. In hamlet the brother kills the king (Old Hamlet), and in Lion King scar kills his brother Mufasa. Some differences are that in the lion king it ended happy and in hamlet it didn't end good because hamlet died and his mother did to but he did get his revenge on his uncle. These are just some of the ways that they are.
Hamlet starring Kenneth Branagh exhibits a different approach than most other productions. In the version with David Tennant, we see a slightly modernized way of telling Shakespeare’s story. The director utilizes modern technology to gain a new perspective on the story. Though, it lacks the full context of the play by rearranging and leaving out scenes. This is why I enjoyed the Kenneth Branagh version better despite it being significantly longer. Although, I can not help, but enjoy David Tennant’s better portrayal of Hamlet.
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the most produced plays of all time. Written during the height of Shakespeare’s fame—1600—Hamlet has been read, produced, and researched by more individuals now than during Shakespeare’s own lifetime. It is has very few stage directions, because Shakespeare served as the director, even though no such official position existed at the time. Throughout its over 400 years of production history, Hamlet has seen several changes. Several textual cuts have been made, in addition to the liberties taken through each production. In recent years, Hamlet has seen character changes, plot changes, gender role reversals, alternate endings, time period shifts, and thematic alternations, to name only a few creative liberties modern productions of Hamlet have taken.
Applying Showalter’s Idea’s to Branagh's Film Version of Hamlet. Elaine Showalter begins her essay, Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism, by criticizing analyses of Shakespeare's Hamlet that have virtually ignored the character of Ophelia in the past. The feminist critic argues that Ophelia is an important character in her own right, not just a foil to Hamlet.
Kenneth Branagh’s interpretation and version of William Shakespeare's Hamlet is better than David Tennant's Hamlet because of the way the directors were able to establish the setting and because the way that the characters were able to interpret and act out the scene.
The difference between the setting shows how modern the Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet is compared to the Mel Gibson version of Hamlet. One of the difference between the two films is the setting and time period. Mel Gibson version of Hamlet is set in a dark and medieval time castle during the 19th century. Kenneth Branagh's movie of Hamlet was set in 19th century making the setting of the castle more of a luxurious modern palace. For instance, In Act 4 Scene 4 during Hamlet’s soliloquy, Hamlet is seen in a setting full of snow in which he emphasize his anger towards the world and Claudius, “How all occasions do inform against me, And spur my dull revenge! What is a man if his chief good and market of his time be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.”(4.4. 31-34). The lighting of the movie plays a major role in the production of the film because it demonstrates emotions and feelings from the characters. For instance, in Hamlet starring Mel Gibson the lighting was adjusted to make the scenes darker to show sadness and grief. However in the Branagh version of hamlet the lighting was fairly bri...
Different adaptations of William Shakespeare’s works have taken various forms. Through the creative license that artists, directors, and actors take, diverse incarnations of his classic works continue to arise. Gregory Doran’s Hamlet and Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet bring William Shakespeare’s work by the same title to the screen. These two film adaptations take different approaches in presenting the turmoil of Hamlet. From the diverging takes on atmosphere to the characterization of the characters themselves, the many possible readings of Hamlet create the ability for the modification of the presentation and the meaning of the play itself. Doran presents David Tenant as Hamlet in a dark, eerie, and minimal setting; his direction highlighting the
For example, when Claudius is praying for forgiveness, Hamlet pulled out his sword and thought that it will be good to kill him at that instance. Hamlet started to think as to how he would kill Claudius and got a flashback of stabbing him in the head. This example shows that he is crazy because he is not able to control is id and wanted revenge right away. A sane person would not fantasize about stabbing another person in the head, especially when they are praying. However, all three films also differ greatly when portraying Hamlet as well. Hamlet is different in his personality when contrasting the three films. In the movie by Laurence Oliver, Hamlet is seen to be more of a dark and depressing person. His clothes are all dark and he is dressed formally which gives the impression of being a quiet person. An example of this is when Hamlet is on top of the cliff. When Hamlet decided not to kill himself, he starts to walk back down the stairs. The stairs are seen to be foggy and dark and this tells the audience of Hamlet’s personality, which is depressing. The effect that this had on Hamlet’s character is that it made him seem to be suicidal. Hamlet did not seem to be very revengeful and made
William Shakespeare was a legend of playwrights in the 16th century. Centuries have passed since he died, but his work is immortal. Many directors have adapted into plays written by him to make movies after years. The directors adapt and interpret the plays in various ways to influence a specific target audience. Shakespeare’s Hamlet character is very complex because of the two sides of him- real him who wants to avenge his father’s death and the fake side of him where he shows everyone he is completely mad. Each director tries to develop the Hamlet that can influence their audience. Act 5 Scene 2 in Hamlet is a unique scene because of the very famous sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes and various characters’ developments as well as the tragic outcome that makes Hamlet a tragedy. Kenneth Branagh’s version directed in 1996 and Gregory Doran’s version directed in 2009 has adapted and interpreted the original text so to affect their target audience using various filmmaking techniques to show different
It is said that Shakespeare wrote plays, not scripts. His work was meant to be read aloud and not just read. This became apparent while I watching the BBC 's 2009 version of Hamlet. I choose this version because the director Gregory Doran put a modern twist on the classic tale. The director’s display of contemporary technology, dress, and presentation of relationships enhanced the idea that Hamlet’s madness was simply a dramatic act.
Both Claudius and Hamlet are similar in many ways. They both have trouble taking action and are very indecisive. This can be seen when Claudius wants to pray and repent for his sins but has trouble praying because he does not want to give up everything that he has gained from that sin. He refuses to let everyone know that it was in fact him that killed the king and deal with the consequences that would follow, like him losing the power and respect he gained from being king. This indecisiveness can also be seen in Hamlet when he has trouble deciding whether to avenge his father’s death or if Claudius even killed his father. Even though the ghost of his father came to him and told Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him to take his position as king, Hamlet has trouble acting
"I was raped," the girl said to me overtaken with tears. I was taken by surprise and was at a complete loss for words. She had just taken one of the darkest secrets of her life and brought it out to the splendid light for just me to gaze upon. A little apprehensive, I responded, "I'm sorry." What is one to say at the revelation of such a horrid thing? Anything else I thought of saying sounded stupid and insensitive, so I opted for silence and hugged her to comfort her to the best of my ability. A few months later the girl came to me and thanked me. She said that my gesture meant more to her than anything anyone else had said about the rape. I then realized that sometimes, if not most of the time, actions can speak louder than words. The parts of us that are less vocal, such as our clothing, gestures, facial expressions, etc. can be more impacting than words.
Michael Almereyda’s movie adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet brings about a new perspective through its performance. The movie adaptation, Hamlet (2000), retells the original play in a modernized setting, bringing out various different elements of characters, which highlights a new reading of these characters as individuals, and a newfangled reading of the play as well. Throughout the movie, Ophelia and Gertrude, the woman-leads, are advanced in a progressive manner compared to the original play. In particular, Gertrude from Hamlet (2000) is noticeably altered from Hamlet, the play. This new interpretation of Gertrude and the play created by the movie adaptation advances the position of Gertrude as a woman, as well as motifs of incest, misogyny,