Hamlet Essay

Blog Comments

Blog #1:  Andrew (Claudius)

My dearest Claudius,

I agree that Hamlet’s depression is deeply troubling. He no longer finds the same enjoyment in activities like he used to and his comments always seem to have some deeper meaning, like earlier today when he said “…I am too much in the sun.” (1.2.69). The fact that he’s also contemplating suicide also has me very worried. I know that he’s been difficult lately, but I hope you remember what he used to be like as well as I do. I think all we can do is hope that he overcomes his feelings of sorrow and grow used to the idea of our new family. And while I agree that he has been grieving for his father for far too long I have to disagree with you when you said that it was “unmanly” (1.2.102). Hamlet should be allowed to grieve without having to worry about people thinking that he’s not acting like a man.

Yours now and always,

Gertrude

Blog #2: Kristen (Hamlet)
Dear Hamlet,

I understand that you’re feeling that I rushed into my marriage with Claudius and I’m truly sorry that you feel the way you do about it.  I agree that this has caused a lot of change throughout the castle, but I must confess that it never really crossed my mind to talk with you about this before and now I see that it was a grave mistake.  I hope that someday you will be able to forgive me and stop all this nonsense about getting revenge.  I promise you that it will not help you in the end.  No good can come out of this.  I know that you are already making snide comments to those around you like when said to Polonius, “You are a fishmonger.” (2.2.190).  Also, when the players came and they were reciting Hecuba’s sorrow at her husband’s death you talked of Polonius saying, “He’s for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps.” (2.2.525-526).  I know that you knew who he was you’re only embarrassing yourself by continuing to make comments like these.  I hope that you stop this behavior and just try to talk to us like an adult and at least try to act like a Prince. 

Your Loving Mother,

Gertrude

Blog #3: Kendra (Ophelia)

Ophelia,

Loving someone and not having that loved returned can be one of the hardest things in life.  I know that you’re feeling small and insignificant because Hamlet isn’t returning your love like he used to, but you can’t let him keep hurting you like he has been.  I agree that his comments have been rude and extremely hurtful and I know that when someone, especially someone you care for, says things like that to you it’s easy to accept it as the truth, but you must remember that what Hamlet thinks of you isn’t what everyone else thinks of you.  While he might say, “Get thee to a nunnery!” (3.1.131) because he thinks that’s where you belong, you have to remember that all the other people that care about you, like your father and brother, know that Hamlet is wrong.  I hope that you can move on from this phase in your life and learn to let go of Hamlet.  You need to learn that love doesn’t always come with pain.  There’s someone out there for you that will love you for you and never even think about saying the things that Hamlet has said.

Wishing you well,

Gertrude

Blog #4: Lauren (Ophelia)

I agree with you when you say that Kenneth Branagh’s version of the “To be, or not to be” speech is the best.  My favorite moment of his version has to be when he pulls out his dagger while saying, “…the dread of something after death, the undiscover’d country from whose bourn no traveller returns,” (3.1.86-88).  It really pulls focus to the idea of death and convinces the viewer that Hamlet really is considering killing himself.  But I have to disagree with you when you say that he looks completely crazed.  I think he looks like he’s not doing so well at that point of time, but I don’t think he looks completely crazy.  If he was completely crazy he would no longer be debating whether or not he wants to die by stating, “ To be, or not to be—that is the question,” (3.1.64), and his thoughts wouldn’t follow a logical pattern, which they seem to do.

Blog #5: Arden (Ophelia)

Ophelia,

I completely agree with you on the fact that this Peter Seng guy didn’t feel the need to let people know that he was writing about you.  I mean really.  You just goes around writing about people without ever stopping to see if he got the facts straight!  He was right in saying that your current behavior was caused in part because of Polonius and that he ultimately died because of his “spying, sneaking, and eavesdropping,” (Seng 221).  While it causes my great pain to see you in this state I’m glad that you’re able to sort out your feelings and remember your father by saying things like, “He is dead and gone lady, he is dead and gone.  At his head is a patch of green grass and at his feet there is a tomb stone.” (4.5.34-37).

Gertrude

Blog #6: Andrew (Claudius)

My dearest Claudius,

I think that it is a great idea to have this song playing at your funeral (hopefully many years from now!).  It’s very important that they kingdom is prepared for anything and everything, even treachery.  Laertes makes this obvious when he says, “…killed by my own treachery,” (5.2.306-307).  I do disagree with you though when you say that Hamlet was crazy for having the players act out a man killing his brother to get his throne just so he could observe your reaction.  I actually think it was very smart of him and the fact that he included Horatio, telling him to “observe [his] uncle,” (3.2.85).

Your faithful wife,

Gertrude

Blog Assignment #6

Just do your thang honey!

I could feel it from the start,
Couldn't stand to be apart.
Something about you caught my eye,
Something moved me deep inside!
Don't know what you did boy but
You had it and I've been hooked ever since.
I told my mother, my brother, my sister and my friend
I told the others, my lovers, both past and present tense.
Everytime I see you everything starts making sense.

Just do your thang honey!

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(what you do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style with your bad ass - oh yeah!
Ain't no other man its true - all right -
Ain't no other man but you.

Just do your thang honey!

Never thought I'd be all right. No, no, no!
Till you came and changed my life. Yeah, yeah, yeah!
What was cloudy now is clear! Yeah, yeah!
You're the light that I needed.
You got what I want boy, and I want it!
So keep on givin' it up!

Tell your mother, your brother, your sister, and your friend.
And the others, your lovers, better not be present tense.
Cause I want everyone to know that you are mine and no one else's!

Oooooooo, oh!

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(what you do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style your bad ass - oh yeah!
Ain't no other man it's true - all right -
Ain't no other man but you.

Break it down now!

Ain't no other, ain't, ain't no other! (other)
Ain't no other, ain't, ain't no other LOVER!
Ain't no other, I, I, I need no other!
Ain't no other man but you!

Ohhhh!

You are there when I'm a mess
Talk me down from every ledge
Give me strength, boy you're the best
You're the only one who's ever passed every test

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(what you do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
(You're the kinda guy, a girl finds oooo yeahh)
You got soul, you got class.
You got style your bad ass - oh yeah!
Ain't no other man it's true - all right -
Ain't no other man but you.

And now I'm tellin' you, so ain't no other man but you.

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(what you do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style your bad ass - oh yeah!
Ain't no other man it's true - all right -
Ain't no other man but you.

The other day Claudius and I were talking about the future of our kingdom, after we have passed from this world, and while I found the topic to be quite depressing at first, it got me thinking about my funeral and how I want to be remembered.  This might surprise some of you because apparently most of you don’t expect this line of thinking from me, but I feel that this is important. 

 After our conversation I felt the need to center my thoughts and a walk around the palace seemed like the perfect plan.  So I set out in the direction of the gardens and it was there that I got to thinking about my feelings for Claudius.  At my funeral I want to make sure that Claudius knows how much I cared for him and how much he has helped me these past few months.  I also think it’s important that Claudius doesn’t focus so much on the fact that I’m gone, but on more positive things.  The song “Ain’t No Other Man” by Christina Aguilera explains how I feel perfectly and would convey it well.  He has been so wonderful since my late husband’s death and I don’t know how I could have gone through these last couple of months without him.  While some, like my son Hamlet, see my marriage to Claudius as hasty, and say things like, “The funeral baked meats, did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.” (1.2.187-188) they do not know the truth of what occurred between Claudius and I.  They could never understand that to me Claudius could just as easily be compared to Hyperion as my late husband.  They only see him as “a mildewed ear blasting his wholesome brother.” (3.4.74-75).  I have also heard some say since I am well on in my years that my “blood is tame” (3.4.79) and that I should never have married Claudius after Hamlet’s death.  My marriage has also been referred to as being “incestuous” (1.2.162) and I truly do not understand why these people feel the need to attack me like this.  Why is it so wrong to love another after the death of a previous husband?  Why do people presume to know the ways of the heart?  It seems pretty clear to me that if you love someone you should marry them.

 I know that some of you are questioning whether or not I ever loved Hamlet.  To those of you that are thinking this I just want to say that I did in fact love him and that his death has caused me much grief.  The only reason that I’m doing as well as I am right now is because Claudius has been there and I’ve been able to lean on him for support.  As Christina Aguilera says, “What was cloudy is now clear…you’re the light that I needed.”  In this case Claudius was the light that I needed to get over Hamlet and I want him to know that.  And contrary to what Hamlet believes I think that the line “Ain’t no other man can stand up next to you,” describes Claudius perfectly.  I know that Hamlet thinks that Claudius is “no more like [his] father,” (1.2.156) than he is to Hercules, but in reality I feel that Claudius exhibits many fine traits that I never saw in Hamlet.  I hope that Claudius will understand this when he hears this song because I know Hamlet’s judgment of his character has upset him a great deal.  Another line that I hope Claudius understand is “You are there when I’m a mess, talk me down from every ledge, give me strength,” because he truly has helped me out of a dark time in my life.  It helped a lot when he formerly recognized me as his Queen in front of everyone and declared me the “imperial jointress” (1.2.9) over Denmark because returning to the tasks that I had before Hamlet’s death has helped keep my mind off of things and remember what’s truly important, which is the welfare of my subjects. 

 I hope that the line “I could feel it from the start, couldn’t stand to be apart.” will let Claudius know that even from the beginning of our marriage I loved him.  That not even Hamlet’s attacks against him like when he said, “A murderer and a villain…a vice of kings, a cutpurse of the empire and the rule,” (3.4.110-113) could diminish my feelings for him. 

I hope that the line “Never thought I’d be alright…till you came and changed my life.” reminds Claudius that after Hamlet’s funeral I was “like Niobe, all tears-“ (1.2.153).  I want him to know that he helped me move on and be happy again.  Without him I feel like I would’ve never fully healed from the loss of Hamlet.  I hope that when I do leave this world (hopefully not to soon in the future!) that Claudius will hear this song and think of how much I loved him and that it will make my passing just a little bit easier for him.

 

Gertrude

Blog Assignment #5

The other day I was walking around the castle when I came across a recent newspaper article concerning Ophelia.  I must admit that at first I was outraged.  Our dear Ophelia has just left us and this reporter feels that he has the right to write about her like this!  I wanted to go out and find this Peter Seng right then and there.  The only reason that I didn’t go out to find him at that moment was that the article caught my attention and I started reading it.  My fury slowly left me as I realized that Seng was right in his assessment of Ophelia.  I truly believe that he was correct when he said, “The distorted vision of the world that Polonius and Laertes impress on Ophelia in the episode is clearly the beginning of her tragedy.” (Seng 222) because they “had their share in the spoliation of her mind’s purity and her child-like trust.” (Seng 220) along with Hamlet.  They are the ones that first told her that she shouldn’t trust everything that people tell her.  Laertes is the first to confront Ophelia about Hamlet when he says, “For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favor, hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, a violet in the youth of primy nature, forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, the perfume and suppliance of a minute, no more.” (1.3.6-11).  Up until this point Ophelia has had no reason to believe that Hamlet’s love for her wouldn’t last and I believe that she was truly shocked when Laertes spoke of this with her.  I can’t really blame her though.  This was her first love and she probably wanted to believe that it would last forever.  Polonius then reinforces what Laertes has already said when he says, “I do know, when the blood burns, how prodigal the soul lends the tongue vows.  These blazes, daughter, giving more light than heat, extinct in both even in their promise as it is a-making, you must not take for fire.” (1.3.124-129) after she tells him that she believes that Hamlet is telling her the truth when it comes to his feelings for her.  He also says, “In few, Ophelia, do not believe his vows, for they are brokers,” (1.3.135-136) meaning that Hamlet doesn’t intend on keeping his promises.

All of Laertes’s and Polonius’s comments to Ophelia concerning Hamlet’s intentions seem to have been unnecessary though because it is later revealed that Hamlet did in fact love her.  I never doubted Hamlet’s feeling for Ophelia and so I was proud of him when he stood up to Laertes in the graveyard and declared his love for her when he said, “I lov’d Ophelia.  Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum.” (5.1.285-287).  I know that his declaration of love for Ophelia might be surprising when you look at all the rude comments Hamlet made towards Ophelia, but his reason for making those comments became clear to me when Seng said that Hamlet’s “actions [were] motivated by the sense that she had already betrayed him.” (Seng 222).  It seems that Hamlet was aware of Claudius’s and Polonius’s plan to “loose [Ophelia] to him” (2.2.176) and hide “behind an arras” (2.2.177).

While I was at first outraged that Peter Seng felt that it was okay for him to write about our dear Ophelia so soon after her untimely death, I have realized that he has affectively uncovered the reason for her descent into madness.  I am thankful that this has been discovered and that the blame does not solely lie with Hamlet’s careless murder of her father, Polonius.

 

Your Loving Queen,

 

Gertrude

Blog Assignment #4

In this famous soliloquy by Hamlet the main question that he’s considering is revealed in the first six words when he says, “To be, or not to be,” (3.1.64).  What this means is that Hamlet is trying to figure out whether or not he wants to continue living.  He fully explores his options when it comes to this question by making several references to death.  He first talks about how easy it would be to just die and then sleep forevermore and “end the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to,” (3.1.69-71).  He continues on this thought until he stops to think about what the afterlife would be like, wondering if it might be better to just put up with all the “ills we have than fly to others that we know not of,” (3.1.89-90).

 Throughout this soliloquy Hamlet uses several different literary devices to get his point across.  One of the main devices that he uses is the metaphor.  When describing how unfair life seems to be Hamlet says, “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,” (3.1.78).  Also, when describing fortune he says, “Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” (3.1.65-66).

 In the excerpt featuring Kenneth Branagh the filmmakers decided to have the scene in the throne room of the castle in Elsinore.  They then show Hamlet facing one of the mirrored doors that are all around the room.  This effectively shows those watching that Hamlet is contemplating something that seems very important to him and it also shows that Hamlet is trying to reach deep within himself for these answers.   Hamlet then brings out a dagger when he describes the afterlife as “…the dread of something after death, the undiscover’d country from whose bourn no traveller returns,” (3.1.86-88).  There fact that there was no music to go along with Hamlet’s speech helped convey that these were his inner thoughts.  Another thing that I think helped portray Hamlet’s inner thoughts is the choice in costume and makeup.  He was dressed in all black, which helped show that he’s still depressed over his father’s death, and they used makeup to give him bags under his eyes, something that helps contribute to the “crazy” persona that he’s been acting out these past few days.  The use of different camera angles also helps show that his speech is going from a more broad kind of thinking to a conclusion of some sort.  It’s starts off as a full body view of Hamlet, which goes along with him proposing his initial question, “To be, or not to be,” (3.1.64), then to a close up of his face when he realizes that he hasn’t taken his revenge on Claudius yet because he’s been thinking too much.

 The filmmakers who put together the excerpt with Laurence Olivier took an interesting take on this scene.  They started off with a lot of crazy shots of the stairs leading up to the cliff that Hamlet is on, showing how far away from everyone else he is.  This shows that Hamlet feels that he’s far enough away that he doesn’t have to be afraid to think about what’s really troubling him.  He’s trying to figure out whether he wants to live or die, by his own hand, and he feels that this is the only safe place to ponder these thoughts.  To go along with all of these angles is music that makes you feel frantic and all of the ascending notes give you get the feeling that Hamlet is really high up in the castle.  While the setting gives off the feeling that Hamlet is contemplating whether he should live or die, the use of the dagger makes his thoughts seem even more real.  The fact that he brings the dagger out while saying, “To die,” (3.1.68) really makes it clear that he’s being very serious and that these thoughts aren’t just passing through his mind.  While the setting and the use of the dagger make it obvious to he’s actually considering killing himself, the custom he’s wearing doesn’t really seem to say much.  Yes he’s wearing black pants and a black vest, but his shirt is white and it doesn’t really doesn’t seem all that depressing.

 The setting of the tomb in the excerpt featuring Mel Gibson surprised me was a unique way of coming straight out and showing that Hamlet was thinking about death and possibly killing himself.  Also, the lack of music as Hamlet is entering the tomb helps emphasize the fact that he’s alone and is aided by his footsteps, which are easily heard.  While the fact that he’s wearing dark clothing helps show that he’s in a depressed mood, the darkness around him in the tombs shows that he feels that he’s suffocating in darkness and that’s why he’s thinking about his life and all the troubles that come along with living.  The changes in Gibson’s voice made it easy to identify when he moved from one thought to the next and when he felt strongly about what he was saying versus when he was just voicing thoughts that passed through his mind.  It was full of emotion when he talked about the unfairness of life, saying, “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, the oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, the pangs of despised love…” (3.1.78-80) showing that this is something that he really thinks and is angry that all of this is allowed to take place.  The camera angles also helped me differentiate important ideas from those that were just passing thoughts because whenever Hamlet reached something significant thought there would be a close up on his face and when he was just walking around the tomb he was just having transitory thoughts that would lead to bigger ideas latter on.

 The filmmakers responsible for the excerpt featuring Ethan Hawke chose to have Hamlet deliver his soliloquy in an empty video store.  They also chose to start out the soliloquy as a voice over, showing that these are Hamlet’s inner thoughts and that he’s been thinking about this long enough that he needs to get it all out once and for all and fully explore all of his options.  His costume also contributes to the idea that death is something he’s been thinking about because the black clothes help show that he’s depressed and depression is usually linked with thoughts about death.  In this excerpt there doesn’t really seem to be much of a change in the camera angle, except for when he says, “To die: to sleep; to sleep: perchance to dream,” (3.1.72-73) when they switch from a close up view of Hamlet to a close up three TV’s showing destruction.  This shows that Hamlet is thinking that death seems appealing because at least then he won’t have to see the death and destruction that goes on in this world.

 In my opinion the person that’s most effective in delivering this soliloquy is Kenneth Branagh.  I feel that he did a good job in capturing the way my son has been acting these past few days.  From what Claudius told me Branagh was able to show madness that seems to have overcome my dear son without overdoing like some others that I’ve seen.  The circles under his eyes showing how the thoughts of death have been circling around in his mind for some time now, keeping him from enjoying the things that he used to.  He still let Hamlet’s madness show though when he pulled out his dagger and started gesturing with it.  I was told that at one point he even touched his face with it!  I feel that more than anything convinces me that not all is right with my dear Hamlet.  Never before has he entertained the thought of death so much that he felt comfortable with the blade of a dagger on his face!  I also think that the use of the mirrors in the excerpt help show that Hamlet is in fact thinking out loud and that he’s actively trying to figure out what it is that he wants to do. 

 If I had had the chance to create my own excerpt for this scene I would have had it take place in the throne room because that’s where it seems to occur in the book.  Having it in the throne room also gives Claudius and Polonius the chance to eavesdrop on what Hamlet is saying.  In three of the four excerpts Hamlet was off by himself while delivering this soliloquy and I think that it’s important that Claudius and Polonius hear it.  The fact that he’s trying to decide if he wants to live or die plays important role in Hamlet’s “antic disposition” (1.5.192).  This fact along with the way Hamlet treated Ophelia in their meeting also give Claudius a reason for wanting to send Hamlet to England.  Next, I would have had Hamlet pull out the dagger when he first mentions dying, like in the excerpt with Laurence Olivier.  The act of pulling out the dagger puts even more emphasis on death and helps the audience understand that Hamlet is seriously thinking about suicide.

Blog Assignment #3

These days’ things in the kingdom seem to be changing all the time.  You think things are one way and then they turn out to be the complete opposite!  I feel like everything around me is falling to pieces and there’s nothing that I can do about it!  Just today when I was talking to Hamlet he revealed to me that he believes that Claudius killed my late husband.  Claudius!  I really don’t know what to make of this, but the way he said it has me wondering if there might be at least a little truth in it.  I know you all probably want to know too that you can try to figure out if he’s telling the truth or not so here it is.  During our argument Hamlet said, “A murderer and a villain, a slave that is not twentieth part the tithe of your precedent lord; a vice of kings, that from a shelf the precious diadem stole and put it in his pocket-“ (3.4.110-115).  But even though everyone else seems to be changing I’ve decided that it would be best for me if I changed as little as I possibly could.  That is why I elected not to change the background of my blog.  I find that the pinkish background sets me at ease and that I can find just a little bit of peace while I’m writing out my feelings to all of you.  Maybe if I just put this all to the back of mind and just keep going on like I have been everything will go back to normal…I know that that might sound silly to some of you, but that’s all I can do right now. 

 While I chose not to change the background for my blog I did decide to change the font that I’m using.  I changed it to Monotype Corsiva because I feel that it does a better job of reflecting what my handwriting actually looks like and I think that you can learn a lot about a person based on the way they write.  My hope is that this font helps me communicate to all of you, my faithful followers, what exactly is going on in the castle and how it affects me.  I’m also hoping that this font will help keep my calm and collected because of its flowing nature.  I believe that we could all use a little calming down after that performance Hamlet put on this afternoon.  I mean really.  What has gotten into him?  I was more embarrassed this afternoon by his actions than I think I’ve been in my entire life!  Some of the comments he made to Ophelia had my heart breaking! One comment was just after the King and Queen players left the stage and Hamlet said to Ophelia, “I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see the puppets dallying.” (3.2.270-271).  I don’t know how she managed to remain so cool and collected with words like that, but I admire her for her strength.

 I have also elected to change the color of my font in hopes that the color blue with add on to the affects of the pink background and create an even more peaceful feeling.  Some of you might think that I’m taking it too far, but I hope that this will help some of you as much as it seems to help me.  I know that the color change was sudden, but it was the only thing I could think to do after my talk with Hamlet.  I a little worried about revealing this to all of you out of fear that it will tarnish your opinion of Hamlet, but I just have to say it.  While we were talking he suddenly changed and started talking to the air!  When I asked him what he was looking at he said, “On him, on him!  Look you how pale he glares.  His form and cause conjoined, preaching to stones, would make them capable.” (3.4.142-144).  I fear that he is losing his grip on reality.  Please do not judge him too quickly and take my fears and make them your own.  I’m sure this will all sort out in the end and I would hate myself forever if this revelation changed your view of Hamlet forever.

 

Your Loving Queen,

 

Gertrude