#15 Hamlet Blog 3

"Hamlet's Soliloquy ." To be, or not to be, that is the question. phrases.org, n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. . The uncertainty of death lies in Hamlet’s use of imagery he cannot otherwise state. In an outward expression of his uncertainty after death he uses the quote “For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come” (3.1.66). As a reader we can denote that “sleep of death” means “in death” and the lines following ask what happens in death, “Dreams may come”. Later in his speech again the uncertainty of death is prevalent. “The dread of something after death,” (3.1.78) explicitly states that Hamlet dreads to learn what comes after death. However why is he scared of death and “dreading” the quintessential question of death? For Hamlet is haunted by life, “Slings of arrows… sea of troubles… heart-ache and the thousand shocks” (3.1.59-62). He ponders over only the negative aspects of the life, in full neglect of the good. The connotation of “slings of arrows” raise images of skies darkened by the daggers from bows, a “Sea of troubles” clouds his mind. However, he cannot kill himself, which is dishonorable in the social culture of the time and Christian religion. Thus we can see the appeals to ethos, logos and pathos in the lines above. Hamlet let us know he is not truly insane, but rather confused, affirming his credibility(ethos). Progressing into his feelings he explains how one should look in his situation (pathos). Finally in an appeal to logos he claims he cannot kill himself for he is a christian. 

Literary devices that are undoubtedly present are paradox, tone, diction, and metaphor. The two primary metaphors in this soliloquy is that death is "sleep" and the "undiscovered country" is the afterlife. However, you may ask yourself "does Shakespeare give it a rest?" The answer is no. He goes on to indulge his paper with the comparisons of life on earth, the afterlife, death, humans, and thinking. The oppositions present in Hamlets argument are: one, the idea of faith, two, should he kill himself or Claudius, and is he contained to life because he fears death. Hamlet begins to ponder this state of purgatory he is living in the earthly life. There are many parallels to Hamlet Senior in this statement, for Hamlet is lost like his father, however hamlet is lost in the question, "To be or not to be." Hamlet eventually draws the conclusion that he must "be" because he cannot follow through on the latter. Thus he solemnly accepts his fate.  

Acting analysis:

Kenneth Branagh:
This was truly my favorite. The juxtaposition of light and dark in the tile spaces, the setting of a seemingly open room filled with people, the knife, the black dress, white makeup and the over the shoulder shot. All aspects of film are seamless. The tiles are essentially part of the setting so I shall count them as such. In the setting we, the audience can see hamlet staged in a wide open room seemingly talking to himself in the mirror. We can see his facial expressions at the intensity of his tone increases and visually the red in his face.Then the mirror, oh the irony, with half the cast cowering in fear behind it. Then the actual mis en scene. The over the shoulder shot allows us to focus on Hamlet in the mirror and see his true self in our peripheral vision. He is a monster glowering read and spitting fire, a no truer tribute to the hamlet I envisioned in my head. Bravo!
Lawrence Oliver:
As far a screenplay goes this was quite laughable. Hamlet is a goofy fool in this this scene with the dark and the light contrast on his face, the ocean and the castle, and body language of a cat. Hamlet is not how I imagined. However he does seem defeated and the use of his knife as an argument is almost too perfect. As he plans to kill himself the knife move closer and when he forces a rebuttal the knife moves away, beautiful. However, his body language is laughable, he is slouching and laying down almost the whole time!
Mel Gibson:
While I may be biased(Mel Gibson is gosh awful, there I said it) he does do an adequate job portraying Hamlet in this scene. He uses the positing of himself as he moves about the morgue and the contrast of the light and dark from the vents to portray his character as he move closer to the life he begins to live and when he lurks in the shadow he is talking of dying.
Ethan Hawke:
Lets all go to blockbuster and be Hamlet! Well at least that is what Ethan Hawke is suggesting...Hawke is normally an adequate actor but in this scene he fails. I just don't care for it. The setting is all awkward. The language is awkward. Awkwardness is everywhere. However, if one thing does succeed it is the nondiagetic sound of the music, the crescendo in the background is almost perfect with his speech.