Hamlet Discussion:
Garden of Eden allusion:
· Act I, Scene 5
· Gertrude = Eve figure (tempts Claudius)
· major question = What did Gertrude know and when did she know it?
· it’s reasonable to assume that Claudius killed for Gertrude because the text tells us that you can’t kill for the throne (must be elected by the board)
· Did Claudius corrupt Gertrude or did Gertrude corrupt Claudius?
· strong suggestion that the affair between Gertrude and Claudius has been going on for a while
o evidence = Gertrude’s lines are very similar to Ophelia’s (Ophelia also had an affair—with Hamlet)
disruption of natural order:
· God—NOT men—installs monarchs
o disruption of natural order shakes Elizabethan world
· “death of a sparrow” allusion indicates that God directs everything
Hamlet in film:
· 3 main versions of Hamlet:
o 1) raging
o 2) weepy/anxious
o 3) cold, detached
o takes a very good actor to incorporate all 3 elements
· things to notice in films:
o How is Hamlet portrayed?
o What is Hamlet’s relationship with the Ghost?
o What is Hamlet and Gertrude’s relationship like?
o What is the opening scene like?
o What is the director’s vision?
· Kenneth Brannaugh version:
o House of Mirrors: vanity; everyone watching everyone else
· modern version:
o What security camera?
§ possibly to suggest that characters are always being watched-in the other movie, this is signified by the House of Mirrors
o Why set in labyrinth?
§ maybe to signify confusion and lack of direction, especially for Hamlet
o How do these elements add to the opening scene?
§ makes opening scene more confusing/eerie; sense of foreboding
§ creates the same effect that the other version does-only modern day style
§ again, brings up issue of identity
o physical closeness-can actually touch the ghost
o Hamlet is constantly lower-how does this affect us throughout the movie?
§ makes audience see Hamlet as weak and cowering
§ his father is always towering above him
o setting of “To be or not to be” speech = Hamlet set in shadow
§ setting = in light
§ creates very different mood
· medieval version:
o interpretation = Hamlet is gay; doesn’t like Ophelia because he’s actually in love with Horatio
o How valid is this interpretation?
Overall Connections:
· Especially in the movies, Hamlet and Gertrude’s relationship reminds me of Oedipus and Jocasta’s relationship: both are filled with sexual tension. In fact, in general, there are many parallels between Hamlet and Oedipus Rex. Aristotle would probably consider both very good examples of tragedy (by his definition), since both have a protagonist who is noble and who has a tragic flaw. Also, both plays address the role of fate versus free will.
· The Biblical allusions in Hamlet remind me most obviously of the passages we read in the Bible, but also bring to mind some of Foster’s points. The “Garden of Eden,” especially, seems like a very common motif.
· For some reason, Ophelia reminds me of “The Lady of Shalott” by Tennyson. Both women seem doomed after they lost their virginity. In addition, they both meet their ends by drowning in a river.
