Blog Post #16: Hamlet Act V

Caution: Music runs on a playlist, pause as soon as song is over.
Try to hear my voice
You can leave, now it's your choice

Maybe if I fall asleep, I won't breathe right
Maybe if I leave tonight, I won't come back

I said it before, I won't say it again
Love is a game to you, it's not pretend
Maybe if I fall asleep, I won't breathe right

Can nobody hear me?
I got a lot that's on my mind
I cannot breathe
Can you hear it, too?

You kiss and you kiss
And you love and you love
You got a history list and the rest is above
And if you're warm, then you can't relate to me
From the floor to the floor
And the sky to the sky
You've got to love and adore and the rest is awry
And if you're warm, then you can't relate to me

I said it before, I won't say it again
Love is a game to you, it's not pretend
Maybe if I fall asleep, I won't breathe right, right, right

Can nobody hear me?
I got a lot that's on my mind
I cannot breathe
Can you hear it, too?

Leave your shoes at the door, baby
I am all you adore, lately
Come with me and we will run away

Can nobody hear me?
I got a lot that's on my mind
I cannot breathe
Can you hear it, too?
Can nobody hear me?
I got a lot that's on my mind
I cannot breathe
Can you hear it, too?

Horatio here with our final blog. Yes I know I haven't been online for a bit since Act III, but a great deal has happened since then. The madness of Hamlet has spread across the castle to Claudius, Ophelia, Laertes, and even Gertrude. Hamlet's depression usually doesn't bother me as I was friends with the Old King when he was alive, but now Hamlet walks these halls wishing  "O, that this too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!(1.2.5) has made me even feel that when he enters the room, the atmosphere becomes 'heavy' one could say. And now we have reached the end of the journey and now this song I hear called Hear Me By: Imagine Dragons. The song was all about depression and loneliness as the singer, despite this being a break up song speaks of what Hamlet has gone through ever since the old king passed and others have tried to help him get out of his slump as the Queen explains to Hamlet he should stop grieving "Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity." (1.2.2). Death, she argues, is "common." But, when you think about it, losing a father isn't common. Sure, everyone's parents die—but your particular parents only die once. .“I've got a lot that’s on my mind” When worried or stressed (as the singer is, emotionally ) some people feel as if the world is against them and no one is there to help and the side effects of such stress include trouble breathing and elevated heartbeat. When no one listens you tend to go off the deep end, yet there are a few that will listen such as a mother or a father. Hamlet explained the situation to his mother to show that the ghost of Old Hamlet revealed of his true passing and sees the spirit once again, Yet the Queen doesn't see it. "Alas, how is't with you, that you do bend your eye on vacancy and with the incorporeal air do hold discourse? For that your eyes your spirits wildly peep...Your bedded hair, like life in excrements, starts up, and stands on end...Whereon do you look?" (3.4.18). Apparently Hamlet is the only one who can see and hear the Ghost when it appears in Gertrude's bedroom. So, what's changed? One possible explanation is that the Ghost chooses to appear only to Hamlet. Another possibility is that Hamlet's the only one who can see the Ghost here because it's a figment of his imagination, which would mean that Hamlet has broken down and has lost his mind. Afterwards, he accidentally killed Polonius, and was sentenced to be moved to England, Ophelia finally snapped. The sight of losing the two people she cared about has drove her over the deep end. Claudius describes Ophelia as being "divided from herself." (4.5.5). In other words, she's lost her mind.  Her ex-boyfriend has murdered her father or maybe it's more complex than that. Maybe she's actually just cracked under the patriarchal pressures of the court. Throughout the play, Ophelia is ordered around by her brother and her father and has no control over her social or love life. Madness might just be the only way she has of fighting back.

The lead singer of Imagine Dragons, Dan Reynolds, has suffered from a lot of depression and anxiety throughout his life. The phrase "Can nobody hear me?" is based around his emotions at a low point in his life, when he feels as if no one is listening to him, or as if no one can see/hear him. As if he's alone and trying to get someone to hear him, to listen to his problems, just like how we find Hamlet in Act III expressing his melancholic personality by making grim comparisons. “To be or not to be…” (3.1.56). Hamlet poses the problem of whether to commit suicide in this logical question that is, to live or not to live. In this way, this speech connects to the theme of suicide and death, the difficulty of knowing the truth in a spiritually ambiguous universe, and the connection between thought and action.  “[t]he slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” (3.1.58). He compares death to sleep and thinks of the end to suffering, pain, and uncertainty it might bring, “[his] heartache, and the thousand natural shocks / that flesh is heir to.” (3.1.62-63). He decides that suicide is a desirable course of action, then he decides that the uncertainty of the afterlife, which is intimately related to the theme of the difficulty of attaining truth in a spiritually ambiguous world,  prevents  humanity from committing suicide to end the pain of life. He outlines a long list of the miseries of experience, ranging from lovesickness to hard work to political oppression. He answers himself again, saying no one would choose to live, except that “the dread of something after death”(3.1.78) makes people submit to the suffering of their lives rather than go to another state of existence which might be even more miserable. It's like a relationship, you have moments when there are arguments, breakups, or even getting back together, but the song shows that the boyfriend doesn't want to live a relationship that's "a game to [her]" and decides that if the relationship can't work the "Maybe if [he] leave(s) tonight, [he] won't come back". 

Love is a strange thing, it's hard to explain and common knowledge can't explain why it happens and what is actually love or just lust. The spirit was definitely angry at Gertrude's betrayal after giving her his love to “that incestuous, that adulterate beast—O wicked wit and gifts—won to his shameful lust the will of my most seeming-virtuous queen...From me, whose love was of that dignity that it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor to those of mine!" (1.4.43-52) but was the ghost saying Gertrude cheated on him when they were married, or does the ghost merely see her remarriage as a betrayal? Hamlet and Ophelia's love for each other confuses me, though love in Denmark is but a mere rumor in the upper-class. Despite Ophelia being a grown woman, she is still warned of the dangers of going along with these temptations by her brother and father. "Fear it, Ophelia… And keep you in the rear of your affection, out of the shot and danger of desire...If she unmask her beauty to the moon: virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes...Be wary then; best safety lies in fear: Youth to itself rebels, though none else near."(1.3.3).Laertes insists that Ophelia should fear premarital sex because a "deflowered" woman is seen as damaged goods that no man will want to marry. That is why Hear Me, in my opinion, is a song of depression, loneliness, and possibly romance issues with a loved one, and to me this song applies to the constant theme seen throughout the play of Hamlet.

Blog #15: Hamlet Act III To be & Analysis of Form & Mis En Scene

 “To be or not to be…” (3.1.56). Hamlet poses the problem of whether to commit suicide in this logical question that is, to live or not to live. In this way, this speech connects to the theme of suicide and death, the difficulty of knowing the truth in a spiritually ambiguous universe, and the connection between thought and action. In addition to its crucial thematic content, this speech is important for what it reveals about the quality of Hamlet’s mind. His deeply passionate nature is complemented by a relentlessly logical intellect, which works furiously to find a solution to his misery. He then weighs the moral ramifications of living and dying. Is it nobler to suffer life, “[t]he slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” (3.1.58) passively or to actively seek to end one’s suffering? He compares death to sleep and thinks of the end to suffering, pain, and uncertainty it might bring, “[his] heartache, and the thousand natural shocks / that flesh is heir to.” (3.1.62-63).Based on this metaphor, he decides that suicide is a desirable course of action, then he decides that the uncertainty of the afterlife, which is intimately related to the theme of the difficulty of attaining truth in a spiritually ambiguous world, is essentially what prevents all of humanity from committing suicide to end the pain of life. He outlines a long list of the miseries of experience, ranging from lovesickness to hard work to political oppression. He answers himself again, saying no one would choose to live, except that “the dread of something after death”(3.1.78) makes people submit to the suffering of their lives rather than go to another state of existence which might be even more miserable.

The setting of Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet character takes place in a royal hall of sorts in the castle during the day, as electricity lights were not around during the time period, only candles, but you don't need them lit during the day. Instead of regular regal clothes that others would wear, it was always black as if he was going to a funeral and matched his personality as his thoughts were suicidal and dark. Most of his speech takes place in front of a mirror, while the camera slowly creeps in to see the madness that has succumbed over Hamlet, yet he keeps himself in control and doesn't go into some form of rage out of confusion and spoke with a tone of curiosity and questioning one’s self. The angle keeps going into an extreme close-up of his reflection on the mirror and we can truly see his face. As he went on in the soliloquy, his face would change from seriousness to a face you could call ‘joyful madness’, yet the way he says everything in hushed tone makes it still sound a pull-in for the audience. As he finishes his speech the camera changes to a long shot as we see Lady Ophelia enter, yet Hamlet still speaks in a hushed tone. The camera angle then focuses on a close up of him and then begins a dolly shot as he makes his way towards her and beginning the continuation of the next scene.
After reviewing the four scenes of ‘To be or not to be’ I would say the following actors of Hamlet would go in the following order: 1. Ethan Hawke, 2. Kenneth Branagh, 3. Laurence Oliver, and finally 4. Mel Gibson. The reason that I chose Ethan Hawke’s scene, it was actually better than the Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) I knew. The future may have ruined some movies and maybe a few franchises, but I give these people credit for trying to direct an old play into the 21st century. The way the speech is projected is still quiet, but now he wanders around a section of action ‘movies’ and shows scenes of various action movies. The other scenes didn't really catch my eye as he either stood in place and projected his speech in a low tone with different facial expressions or wandered around doing the same thing. The one with Laurence Oliver was pretty good, but it was a bit overdramatic at some parts of the speech and the angles and close ups didn't really help with the flow of the story. The last one, starring Mel Gibson, was trying too hard as he took pauses more often than necessary to get the audience to focus on the soliloquy to make it more mad and dark, since the atmosphere and lighting did that. I’m not really one for being dramatic, but three are times when it’s enough or too much. Ethan Hawke’s ‘To be or not to be’ helps reach an audience of the future and leaves subtle hints of the theme as he wanders this Blockbuster, and let me tell you, I see no blocks or anything ‘busted’ to the matter.

Blog Post #14: Hamlet Act II

"Louis: We made it! I can't believe we made it!
Bill: Son, we just crossed the street.
[ Bill pauses to light a cigarette. ]
Let's not throw a party 'til we're outta the city."

 This is Horatio her to talk about these things called video games.Recently Hamlet has had unexpected visit from his other friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet was overjoyed some familiar faces at his home."Hamlet: My excellent good friends! How dost thou Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you both? Rosencrantz: As indifferent as children of the earth. Guildenstern: Happy in that we are not overhappy; on Fortune's cap we are not the very button."(2.2.lines 215-219). The four of us friends together reminds of this story that happened when I retired for bed after the whole ghost event, someone from the future came to me and showed me so many things that could signify brotherhood and friendship, but the one that stood out the most was this thing called Left 4 Dead. True, the death part was a bit much, but the glowing box made this story so exciting! Anyways this game of 'infected' feels like these are people that you cannot trust and this stone city keeps them from escaping almost like how Hamlet describes Denmark to our other friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,“...for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me, it is a prison.” (2.2. lines 268-270). It was as if this was like a prison, only you make the wrong move you die from an infect... OH MY GOD that thing looks like a giant covered in boils and keeps running while those flash sticks keep hitting it ad it doesn't slow down. Back to the subject, Hamlet begins behaving in unusual ways, which causes concern for his mother and uncle. In an effort to find out what was troubling Hamlet, King Claudius and Queen Gertrude sends for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet's 'closest' friends 'with haste' to 'use' them for 'the supply and profit of (their) hope' (2.2. lines 20-24). as I played each of these campaigns as they called it, the team always worked together and took care of themselves and any others that needed help. The friendship of each character seems to show how much they trust each other and loyalty to each other to get through the dangers of the world, much like me and Hamlet. We can only trust each other and stay truthful to what is right. As a friend I will make his plans fall through, but without those flash sticks and crazy people in a bright stone village, that place just depresses me almost as much as Hamlet as he views the world as he no longer has any joy,  and thinks that there is no good in the earth as repeats to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as he , “...lost all (his)  mirth, forgone all custom of exercises, and, indeed, it goes so heavily with (his) disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to (him) a sterile promontory…” (2.2.318-322) as other people would surely betray each other to live in the end of all life than help each other to survive it. It was quite an amount to take in that Hamlet's loyalty to his father to avenge the very soul and right the wrong that was inflicted yet questions his belief as he he mentioned to me “The spirit that I have seen/ May be a devil…/I’ll have grounds/More relative than this”(2.2.526-532), he reveals part of the reason for his hesitancy, and resolves to have firmer evidence of his uncle’s guilt before he inflicts punishment. I believe in each word of Hamlet to have the king relive his sin, but I'm uncertain what the outcome of our so called king will be, and what will happen to us.

Blog Post #13: Hamlet Act I

I never liked Claudius as much as the Old king, and yet Queen Gertrude chose to remarry so soon after the King's death. After the funeral and soon marriage, Hamlet was complaining often about,"Frailty, thy name is woman— A little month, or ere those shoes were old With which she follow'd my poor father's body Like Niobe, all tears—why she, even she— O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourn'd longer—married with my uncle, My father's brother, but no more like my father ..."(1.2.146-153)Hamlet feels that it was disloyal of his mother to remarry so soon after the murder of her first husband. As a friend I saw fit to offer advice and comfort the best can, but right now his complaints have to cease of what transpired yesterday evening, the ghost of his father. I could not find him the day of the vent so by the Devil himself I could not hold this secret any longer as I told him."As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true;And we did think it writ down in our duty To let you know of it." (1.2.221-223)I feel that it is my duty to inform Hamlet that I have seen the ghost of Hamlet's father. At first he was skeptical, but my description of him even scared him was that the apparition wore what he was buried with and always beckoned someone to come near, to probably talk to it. I asked of him to stay watch and see for himself the ghost of King Hamlet haunts us. He agrees to keep watch tonight and see if he can speak with this ghost.

By the Lord Himself as I saw my friend wander into the woods after the spirit. I recently learned it was the spirit of our Old King  Hamlet, who was murdered by his own brother. We trusted him as he gave his speech, "Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe..."(1.2.1-5)He said that out of loyalty and respect to the recently deceased King Hamlet, the whole kingdom should be contracted in one brow of woe.  His words, of course, are contradicted by his actions: he is the one who murdered King Hamlet for his own personal benefit!To think I could trust a man like Claudius and Gertrude I'm not sure if she played a role in this foul play, but like Hamlet, the ghost dwells on Gertrude's "seeming" virtue.The spirit is definitely angry at her as well as well "Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,—O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power So to seduce!—won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen...From me, whose love was of that dignity That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine!" (1.4.43-52) But was the ghost saying Gertrude cheated on him when they were married, or does the ghost merely see her remarriage as a betrayal? Either way, the ghost implies that Gertrude's remarriage retroactively makes their marriage into a sham.

I have been spooked beyond reason, the spirit has revealed so much to us yet if were we to reveal it to others, we would be seen as loons. I almost felt like going mad as Hamlet asked us a favor,"And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars and soldiers, Give me one poor request....Never make known what you have seen to-night." (1.4.140-143). I could only mark my loyalty to my friend, as well as Marcellus, but the ghost was not satisfied, as we must swear by Hamlet's sword we would dare not speak of what transpired that night. I'm loyal to my friend to the end and will do anything to keep this a secret.

Blog #12: Hamlet Character Analysis

The character I have chosen to focus on is Horatio's perspective. The main reason I chose him over the others is because he is Hamlet's faithful friend and only question's his judgment once throughout the entire play. Their friendship, their brotherhood, and how much they will go through to support, defend, and maybe even kill for each other he and Hamlet carry fall under the theme of War as an Affirmation of Masculinity. During my research of him, it is shown he is willing to impale himself with his own sword than live on after Hamlet's death, which represents how much he cares about Hamlet and will always follow through, whether Hamlet's decisions are good or bad. In most stories I have come across there was always a person, good or bad, who had a loyal friend, that follows through like a dog and its master, but later begins to wonder "Am I doing the right thing by listening to this person?" By Horatio's questioning of Hamlet's decision once during the play, he begins to see that the man he thought he knew wasn't what he was thinking in the first place. With social media, you can see say your childhood heroes Tweets or posts, while being blindly loyal, liking and commenting on their status, until you find out the truth that not everything is painted black and white and the fame of the hero and used to be friend comes crashing down. With a friend like Horatio, I am highly curious to see how far he is willing to go for his friend Hamlet and visa-versa.

Blog #11: Hamlet "Who's There?" Passage Analysis

Sorry there is no picture of our poster here, because we weren't thinking. So heres' another post of the character analysis.

The character I have chosen to focus on is Horatio's perspective. The main reason I chose him over the others is because he is Hamlet's faithful friend and only question's his judgment once throughout the entire play. Their friendship, their brotherhood, and how much they will go through to support, defend, and maybe even kill for each other he and Hamlet carry fall under the theme of War as an Affirmation of Masculinity. During my research of him, it is shown he is willing to impale himself with his own sword than live on after Hamlet's death, which represents how much he cares about Hamlet and will always follow through, whether Hamlet's decisions are good or bad. In most stories I have come across there was always a person, good or bad, who had a loyal friend that follows through like a dog and its master, but later begins to wonder "Am I doing the right thing by listening to this person?" By Horatio's questioning of Hamlet's decision once during the play, he begins to see that the man he thought he knew wasn't what he was thinking in the first place. With social media, you can see say your childhood heroes Tweets or posts, while being blindly loyal, liking and commenting on their status, until you find out the truth that not everything is painted black and white and the fame of the hero and used to be friend comes crashing down. With a friend like Horatio, I am highly curious to see how far he is willing to go for his friend Hamlet and visa-versa.