Blog #23: Hamlet Act 4 "Reviving Ophelia" Literary Criticism

Dear Followers,

Why is it that the most abhorrent of emotions affect the purest of heart? Those that have no place to pity themselves with their striking beauty come to a resolution of insanity derived from the authority they are obligated to. Oh sweet Ophelia! "I did love you once" (3.1.115), my fair lady. "You should not have believ'd me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I lov'd you not" (3.1.117-119). I stay "a prince out of [your] star, yet [you were] willing to bide [your] time patiently, waiting for [my] formal proposals" (Seng 218). I pray you retain your beauty beyond the limits of life, from the grave you collect back the innocence your acute father wickedly stole, yet accusing me of the crime. Your "father and brother have had their share in the spoliation of [your] mind's purity and [your] child-like trust" (Seng 220). Though it pains me to see you covered in the Denmark's glacial grounds, knowing that "a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at [you]" (4.3.19-20), I shall not feel sorrow at your heart as a breeding ground for mistrust. The first of the family gone, who reared the "accusation of guilt where no guilt has been" (Seng 220), surely a "shock to [your] gentle nature which believed men were what they seemed to be" (Seng 220). What a foolish faith! You and I have much in common, my dear. For us both, "Denmark has become a prison" (Seng 218), though you now are held captive for a timeless period, but nevertheless engendering our insanity. As for your father, I feel no remorse. "[He] find'st to be too busy is some danger" (3.4.34) as he finds himself "too willing to sacrifice morals to political expediency" (Seng 221). I understand not your madness over the venal character, him standing at the trench of the deepest sea as my father rules over the skies, worthy of sacrificing sanity. Perhaps it is, for some peculiar reason, the same love I shed for my father that you sense. "There lives within the very flame of love a kind of wick or snuff that will abate it" (4.7.111-112). Your flame, too feeble to withstand the strong gusts of emotion, abated by your own drowning into an incessant adherence to your father.

As always, with devotion,

Hamlet

Blog #22: Hamlet Act 3 Soliloquy Form & Mis En Scene

Soliloquy Analysis

The initial setting of the tone and focus of the soliloquy occurs in lines 55-59 during which Hamlet argues with himself on whether or not he is worthy of life and existence and the choice between a painful and calm death. The metaphors "To take arms against a sea of troubles" (3.1.58) and "suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" (3.1.56-57) are contrasting each other in the way man approaches his struggles, either patiently or with force and determination. The next shift occurs during lines 59-63 when Hamlet perceives death as a peaceful retreat from the struggles of life as it may "end the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks" (3.1.60-61). Additionally, he utilizes pathos when paralleling death to sleep, "to die: to sleep" (3.1.59) and directly correlating one another to appeal to his conscious emotion. This same technique is used with the same statement at the beginning of the next shift from line 63-67. Hamlet is now hesitating over his perception of death as a peaceful escape by wondering about the mysteries of the afterlife, "what dreams may come when have shuffled off this mortal coil" (3.1.65-66). Through his diction, Hamlet introduces the next shift, lines 67-74, by addressing life as a "calamity" (3.1.68) that we only respect because of fear of the unknown. He uses logos to make this comparison of life and its struggles to a calamity. "Who would bear the whips and scorns of time" (3.1.69) is presented as ethos to provide credibility to the superhuman character that would be capable of having the knowledge. The next shift, lines 74-80, present another ethos, "the dread of something after death" (3.1.81), through the assumption that Hamlet's personal fear applies to others as well. The closing lines of the soliloquy, lines 81-86, allows Hamlet to expose his emotions regarding the revenge scheme, in which his conscience prevents him from taking action until the truth is confirmed. He again uses imagery and pathos to convey the cowardice of man in which the "native hue of resolution" (3.1.82) no longer exists and is replaced by a "pale cast of thought" (3.1.83). The final line of the speech reinforces the purpose as a whole- Hamlet's inability to act in the name of justice by "los[ing] the name of action" (3.1.86).

Acting Analysis

The scene begins with a wide-angle shot showing Hamlet's full body. It is initially over-the-shoulder and in a tight frame, symbolizing Hamlet's emotional entrapment as he stands at the edge of the frame. This component allows the audience to have both a personal and a distant connection with the character, as we can sense ourselves behind him and thus sympathizing with him but not being able to understand his emotions, as symbolized by the full-body shot. He begins to move closer to the mirror but the scene maintains the initial setting. As he pulls out a knife and moves it towards his face, the camera shifts solely to a close-up through the mirror, ignoring the over-the-shoulder aspect. Branagh's choice to film the character's close-up as a virtual image represents the audience's inability to truly comprehend his internal conflicts, viewing them only on the surface. There is a slight hint of background music in the scene since Hamlet delivers the speech in an increasingly personal whisper as it concludes. However, the bright lighting of the hall serves as a reminder for the audience of the presence of others in the scene and only a seemingly solitary environment.

Kenneth Branagh, as an actor and a director, portrayed the soliloquy in the most authentic manner out of the three. Laurence Olivier's portrayal did not show any indication of potential eavesdroppers and utilized dramatic music and computer-generated imagery to an unnecessary extent. However, because of Hamlet's harmony with nature (turbulent sea reflecting his emotions) and pauses at appropriate moments, I rank this depiction second. I tremendously disliked the Ethan Hawke portrayal because of its complete lack of authenticity in relation to the actual play. I disapprove of the director's choice to place Hamlet in the 21st century setting of a Blockbuster store as it removes the essence and purity of Shakespeare's work.

Blog #21: Hamlet Act 2 Social Media Assignment

Dear Followers,

Manners Maketh Man.

Oh, how does one display indifference?
Remain tranquil in a time of horror?
As Harry Hart did not utter a word in light of global bloodshed,
Oblivious to the deceits surrounding him,
His very own leader defrauding him, killing him!
How this refined feature resembles the rottenness in Denmark,
A leader, an uncle, a ruler, beloved to all
Except those that possess the misfortune of knowing the facts,
"For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ" (2.2.556-557).
The mystery of the classified agents, so intriguing in which one could not conclude
Who carries ill and who carries good,
Until all is exposed, and light sheds the darkness of the mountain.
When shall that day come forth in Denmark?
A season of fresh harvest in lieu of the stale tension,
Till then what am I to do? Incapable of fury upon my own father's murder,
Full of nothing but remorse at my deficiency.
"Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!" (2.2.542-543)
A boy from streets flashed more audacity than me!
A boy from streets recognized treachery ahead of me!
A boy from streets rose to power after the departure of his idol!
Am I no more than a boy from streets?
"I, the son of a dear father murdered,
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell," (2.2.546-547)
Am deemed unfit by my own conscious to take vengeance against my kin,
Upholding the sanctity of the throne of Denmark, this prison that engulfs me.
"Tis none to [others], for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
To me it is a prison" (2.2.249-251)
A mannered gentleman sacrificing his history for mankind, dead at the speed of a bullet!
Have mercy, Fortune! Us mortals "on Fortune's cap...are not the very button" (2.2.219).
Let it be. I must prepare myself.
I too will put on a wise disposition, becoming Eggsy,
Let me neglet the antics of my previous strategy and attack the true villain with wit.

As always, with devotion,

Hamlet

Tweets

- "For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ" (2.2.556-557)

Playing Operation for the first time. Didn't expect surgery to be this noisy #horseinhisleg #thisguyneedsmentalhelp

- "Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!" (2.2.542-543)

Name: Hamlet
Occupation: Prince of Denmark
Hobbies: Reading the thesaurus
#imsofancy #youalreadyknow #iminthefastlane #fromdenmarktowittenberg

- "I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell" (2.2.546-547)

Dad keeps giving me more chores. Won't be able to make it to the bar tonight :( #sorryguys #princelydutiesandallthat

- "Tis none to you, for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison" (2.2.249-251)

Almost 30 and still living in my parents' basement. Probably should have gone back to school. #prisoncastle #unemployed

- "on Fortune's cap...are not the very button" (2.2.219)

Dad died. Mom doesn't care. Uncle is a criminal. My life is so perfect. #badluckbrian

Blog #20: Hamlet Act 1 Social Media Assignment

{Write an entry as if you were Hamlet... about bumping into the ghost and the "antic disposition" you're going to put on.}

Dear Followers,

Ever since I have examined and spoken to my father's ghost, I remain agitated and anxious about the forthcoming future. While I have explicitly told my dear friends, Horatio and Marcellus, to not speak about the happenings "For [their] desire to know what is between us" (1.5.142), I am conflicted as to how to hide my emotions now that I know of the King's true reason for death. What do I say when approached by Claudius, my uncle and now father? Before my father's passing, I would confer in my mother on my troubles and conflicts. But now, she will most certainly support her husband, who so evilly and cannily seduced to the throne. "My fate cries out/ And makes each petty artery in this body/ As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve" (1.4.86-88). Is this in true sense my fate?

Ah how I remember that hour I spent in the ghost's presence. His demeanor so like my father, yet the cold aura so unlike his alive and warm character. Had I listened to my companions' advice and not followed the looming creature, I would not be in such combat against my own mind. I do express remorse over my affirmation to them "Why, what should be the fear?" (1.4.68). This fear in the incestuous blood that runs through my veins surpasses all others. Yet I still do not repent my doings as now I am able to rightfully take my revenge and partake in warfare against my own kin. Oh my father -his soul, a vision perhaps- how I thank thee for escaping the "prison house" (1.5.14) that  entangles during daytime and singing as a canary the song of terror to your loyal, mournful son. So correct you were when you said "So art though to revenge when thou shalt hear" (1.5.7). I shall avenge your murder, father. No force in the land will avert me from this intention, not vile Claudius nor my vulgar mother. 

As always, with devotion,

Hamlet

Tweets

- "For your desire to know what is between us" (1.5.142)

When your friends call to hang out but you got family drama at home #maybenextweekend #dadslecturingme #again

- "My fate cries out/ And makes each petty artery in this body/ As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve" (1.4.86-88)

Just got back from the therapist... Something about putting "too much pressure on myself" #itsmyfateforgodssake #destinyiscalling #nbd

- "Why, what should be the fear?" (1.4.68)

Some say its just the hormones but I like to think I'm pretty badass #testosterone #rebellious #emoteenager #itsnotjustaphase

- "prison house" (1.5.14)

Dad's visiting from hell... Someone wasn't a good boy #didntmakeittoheaven #nogoodfoodinhell

- "So art though to revenge when thou shalt hear" (1.5.7)

Dad's got pretty high expectations for someone who dresses like its the 14th century #getwiththetimes #itsthe15thcenturynow #blackisin