Hamlet intro

Claudius, Hamlet, and Gertrude briskly walk through the busy streets of Manhatten. Surrounded by their personal security, they entice Hamlet not to leave for Wittenburg. As Claudius speaks to Hamlet, he touches his shoulder in order to create an illusion of affection and care for Hamlet's well-being. This modern version of Shakespeare's Hamlet illustrates how language can transcend time and setting can affect relationships. 

Act 1 Scene 2 Film Study (Olivier)

Film: Olivier
- The queen is in the sun and hamlet's face is in the sun. 
- speaks to hamlet pleadingly and motherly
- she is being manipulative
- the king is in the darkness
- hamlet is sitting down, slouching
- Gertrude stands in front of him towering.
- looks at his mother as if looking for approval
- Gertrude hugs on him and holds his shoulders (like a puppet-master)
- she touches him many times
- She cups his face affectionately
- Claudius speaks very pompously
- the court pays close attention to both him and Gertrude/ hamlet
- The king pays attention to who is watching him
- talks more to the people than he speaks to Hamlet
- being kingly??
- Walks around as he speaks
- When he says "let the world take note" everyone stands up and he points out toward the crowd 
- Claudius stands about him, speaking down on him
- Gertrude stands in front of claudius trying to take over 
- kisses hamlet passionately
- Claudius interrupts as they are kissing
- the soliloquy is given very calmly 
- seems resigned, contemplative
- looks down at the thrones

Act 1 Scene 2 Film Study

My idea for the essay we are writing is about how the more modern films affect the relationships between the characters. The two films I'm interested in using are by Ethan Hawke and David Tennet. I am looking at how the background and the place and time period the characters are set in changes how Hamlet and his mother interact or how Gertrude and Claudius interact. In Hawke's film, Gertrude and Claudius seem to be unified in their efforts to keep Hamlet from traveling away. However in Tennet's film, Gertrude and Claudius seem to have the same goal but go about it in different ways. Gertrude seems to be pleading and almost seductive, while Claudius is straightforward, but uses kindness to disguise his displeasure with Hamlet. 

Act 1 Scene 2 Film Study

As we viewed the different films that showed the same scene, I was noticing the differences between the mother's attitude, voice, and stage presence toward Hamlet. In Olivier's version of the film, the mother seemed very loving when speaking directly to Hamlet, yet while speaking in accordance with Claudius, she became very hostile. In Jacobi's film, Gertrude seems almost flirtatious and manipulative with Hamlet when she asks him to stay. In Gibson's film, Gertrude speaks to Hamlet in a whispering and pleading tone, but she has sincerity when she speaks. One thing that seems to be common between both Olivier and Gibson's interpretations of the film is that Gertrude kisses Hamlet passionately for a long period of time. The Oedipal complex is very clear in these moments. However, in Jacobi's interpretation, Gertrude kisses Claudius. She gives Hamlet a slight touch on the shoulder, and is continually touching Claudius. By looking at all three films side by side, we can see how the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude affects Claudius when he speaks. 

Act 5 ~ Hamlet

Hamlet talks to the gravedigger. He is very inquisitive of what he is doing, as usual. Hamlet wants to know who the grave is for and their gender, but also asks many questions about the gravedigger's personal life. As he continues to talk to the gravedigger, we see a side of Hamlet not normally displayed in the presence of his mother, Gertrude, and King Claudius. The Gravedigger tells Hamlet information he has heard about Hamlet, not knowing it was he that he was talking to and makes jokes about him and England. 

He says: 

GRAVEDIGGER: It was the very same day that young Hamlet was born-- he that is mad, and

 sent to England.

HAMLET: Ay, marry, why was he sent to England?

GRAVEDIGGER: Why, because he was mad. He shall recover his wits there. Or if he do not, 'tis no great matter there.

HAMLET: Why?

GRAVEDIGGER: 'Twill not be seen in him there. There the men are as mad as he. 

 (5.1.152-160)

By talking to the gravedigger Hamlet is able to discover the thoughts of everyone around him and what information has been spread around. When the Gravedigger makes a joke on England, Hamlet doesn't understand. He says that the English people will not notice Hamlet's madness because they are all mad. 

Act 5~ Hamlet

As we begin the final act of Shakespeare's Hamlet, we enter into a conversation between the Gravedigger and another. As the Gravedigger speaks to the other person, we see that his speech is not as sophisticated as his royal counterparts, such as Hamlet and King Claudius. He says, "Argal, she drowned herself wittingly" (5.1.12-13). Although he is making a valid point about the death of Ophelia, his conclusion with "argal" reveals his lack of education. This lack of education is displayed by his mispronunciation of "ergo".The gravedigger, even while lacking education, still finds ways to enjoy himself. With his witty humor, he keeps the interest of both himself and his friend: "What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?" (5.1.42-43). Although he digs graves as his livelihood, and has done so since he was young, he still remains quite pleasant and happy with what he does. 

Act 4~ Hamlet

As we continue to look at Act 4 of Hamlet, we see the Queen, Gertrude, talking to both a Gentlemen and Horatio. They are telling her that Ophelia has come to visit and wants to speak with her. Gertrude, however, is not looking forward to seeing her. As Ophelia enters, she is distracted and begins to sing to the Queen every time she talks. Once the King begins to converse with her, he realizes her madness and wants her to be carefully watched. Claudius speaks to himself, understanding that her madness has come from her father's death and his "hugger-mugger" burial. She did not get a chance to say goodbye. After he finishes his soliloquy, he hears a noise, and in comes Laertes, angry about the death of his father as well, but not yet crazy. I believe that Laertes has not gone crazy yet as Ophelia was because he was not near to Polonius as Ophelia was. Ophelia was with her father constantly, while Laertes was away at school. He was hearing second hand information, which I don't think had the same emotional effect as it did for Ophelia first hand. Although Laertes comes in angrily and ready to kill to Claudius for revenge, Claudius finds a way to manipulate him and focus his anger toward Hamlet. 

QUESTION: How is Claudius able to calm and manipulate Laertes with such ease?
Does Laertes not realize he is being taken advantage of?

Act 4~ Hamlet

In Act 4 of Hamlet, we begin with the Queen, Gertrude telling King Claudius of Polonius' murder by Hamlet. She calls it an outrageous act and further reaffirms the idea that he has gone mad. In contrast, to Gertrude's reaction of disappointment and despair, Claudius is only relieved that the person dead was not him. In this one scene, we can see the contrast between Gertrude's real and raw emotions and Claudius' lack of empathy, sympathy, or any real emotion towards others. Yet when Hamlet is brought in to speak of the location of Polonius' dead body, Claudius becomes flustered and cannot seem to get his thoughts straight and organized. Hamlet's flippant responses show how he carefully and quickly outsmarted Claudius. 

QUESTION: How does Hamlet keep finding a way to outsmart Claudius?

Hamlet

In the reading, we saw Polonius' murder by Hamlet and Hamlet's mother realize and understand her flaws and faults. In doing so, Hamlet reveals to his mother his true feelings toward her marriage to King Claudius and the time in which it happened. Hamlet kills Polonius thinking it was the King. He intended to kill the king to get back at him for his father's murder. When Hamlet had the initial chance to kill Claudius, he didn't because he was praying. He felt that because he was praying he would have an automatic trip to heaven, unlike his father who is doomed to serve time roaming the earth. However, Claudius was not actually praying because he feels no actual guilt and therefore can't ask forgiveness. 

QUESTION: Why does Claudius not seem to have guilt toward the murder of his brother and taking his wife? Does he really lack empathy and guilt as he displays when by himself?