Monday, October 11, 2010

Acts Two and Three of Hamlet

Hamlet starts getting dramatic when he goes and flashes Ophelia.
This is a bit like a big ole tragic scream, particularly from Hamlet Jr, as it's like a huge cry for help where he's gotten to the point where he's gone so mad he's getting his bojangles out.
There's also the MASSIVE GREAT HUGE pivotal moment where Hamlet Jr gets the actors to put on a performance of what he believes happened to his father, with the poisoning and the like.  Just prior to the performance, Hamlet does his "to be or not to be" speech.
There are LOADS of different opinions on this speech, and what the hell he's talking about.
Some people reckon he's discussing suicide, and whether or not to top himself.
Others think he's discussing whether or not he should continue existing at all.
I honestly think he's discussing whether or not ANYTHING should exist at all.
Which is a pretty cool thing to be thinking.
He's being a bit melodramatic, in my opinion, but it's actually pretty profound.  He wishes that we could all sleep, and never feel hurt again, but then realises that if we sleep, we are "perchance to dream", which is a bit rubbish, because they may be nightmares and that would just defy the point.  So really, he's contemplating the life, the universe and everything, which is average for a philosophy student, but cool for a prince who's gone a little bit mad.
When we get to the bit with the players, Hamlet Jr sets Horatio to watching the King to see what expression he has on his face when he realises the play is about him, and whether or not this look is of guilt or more "Eh?"
Turns out, VERY guilty, and off Claudius goes, ending the play and conspiring with Polonius.
After deciding Polonius will spy on Hamlet talking to his ma, Claudius prays.
Hamlet shows up, decides to kill him, then can't kill him because he's worried that, as he's praying, he'll go straight to heaven, when actually he'd rather he go to hell.
So he doesn't kill him.
I mean really.
Just get on with it, mate.

1 comment:

  1. You make good comments about the tragic developments. Your reflections on Hamlet's inability to act suggest that he is held back by a sense of conscience. is this too much of a moral dilemma for Hamlet? Does he belong to a different world view from others in the play?

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