Ellie+Sasso

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Hamlet Blog #4 2/20/12

Finally everyone has died. The deaths in the end of Hamlet all come very rapidly and dramatically. I thought the most interesting death scene in the movie versions was in the Kenneth Branagh versions when Claudius gets smashed by the chandalier. That was a very dramatic scene. I have always wondered why Shakespear would choose to write a play in which every single significant character dies in the end. It seemes a bit pointless. I liked the overall story, but i do wish not everyone died.

As far as our essential questions goes, basically everyone dies and/or kills someone else, so there is a lot going on with who has the right to choose who lives or dies. Hamlet obviously things that Claudius does not have the right to live, so he kills him. Even though he also kills Laertes, in the very end, Hamlet seems to think that he has somewhat of a right to live. Gertrude also dies, even though there was no one that though she did not have the right to live. There are many choices made, mainly by Hamlet, in regards to who will live or die. Hamlet also makes the choice to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed.

PRINCE FORTINBRAS

Let four captains Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage; For he was likely, had he been put on, To have proved most royally: and, for his passage, The soldiers' music and the rites of war Speak loudly for him. Take up the bodies: such a sight as this Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss. Go, bid the soldiers shoot.

These lines are the last lines spoken in Hamlet and i thought they were interesting because it is Fortinbras speaking about how he thinks Hamlet "proved most royally". This is the only time we really see much of Prince Fortinbras and get somewhat of an opinion on how he feels about Hamlet. It is also intersting that the only movie version that included the part was the Kenneth Branagh version.

Hamlet Blog #3 2/12/12 What we have read this week in Hamlet has had a lot more to do with deaths that in previous weeks. We have seen Polonius and Ophelia both die, and things are building up do the deaths of the other characters. Ophelias death is very puzzling in the aspect that it is somewhat unclear whether or not she died by accident, commited suicide, or let herself die when she fell into the water. I've really enjoyed reading the last few scenes because they have been much more eventful than previous scences.
 * Death, Death, and more Death!**

The essential question has had a lot more relevence in the last few scenes because of Ophelias debated suicide. If it was in fact a suicide, Ophelia obviously did not think life was worth living, but why could this be? It could have been because of the death of her father, Polonius. She may have been so depressed by the loss of a loved one that she did not feel that she had anything worth living for. Another reason could have been because of how mean Hamlet had been being to her recently and how upset she was that he broke his promise to her.



Passage:

Gertrude: Unto that element: but long it could not be Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death.

These lines were interesting to me because Gertrude is making assumptions that Ophelia's death was an accident, without even considering the alternatice. Whether she conciously chooses not to explore the idea of suicide or not, is unclear.

Hamlet Blog #2 2/5/12 This week, we have gotten much further into the play and have learned more about the ghost of Hamlet. By this time in the story, Hamlet's insanity is starting to come into question more and more. Could this be because he has finally seen his fathers ghost? The laguage is also beginning to be easier to understand and translate.
 * Is Hamlet really Insane?**

As far as the Essential question goes, The ghost of Hamlet has finally made it clear that he wants Hamlet to avenge his death and kill Claudius. While the ghose may not have the right to decide the fate of Claudius, he will vertainly have an influence over whether he gets to live or die. It seems that Hamlet does not think his life is worth living because of the fact that his mother is marrying Claudius so soon after the death of his father, and he is very upset by this. He seems to think that life is no longer worth living when one has nothing to live for.

LORD POLONIUS

What is't, Ophelia, be hath said to you?

OPHELIA

So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.

LORD POLONIUS

Marry, well bethought: 'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you; and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous: If it be so, as so 'tis put on me, And that in way of caution, I must tell you, You do not understand yourself so clearly As it behoves my daughter and your honour. What is between you? give me up the truth.

OPHELIA

He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me.

LORD POLONIUS

Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them?

I think that this passage is significant because it is part of the conversation that polonius and Laertes have with Ophelia when they tell her that they dont want her to see Hamlet anymore because they dont think that he has the intention of marrying her. It is also one of the first times Ophelia makes an appearance in the play. It is important because whether or not Ophelia obeys them as she says she will, could have a huge affect of the outcome of the play.

Hamlet Blog #1 1/29/12
 * To be, or not to be? That is the question..**

My opinion of the first few scenes of Hamlet that we read this week were that while the language is a bit confusing and takes quite a bit of thought to understand, the scenes set up a solid foundation for the rest of the play. The seeing of the ghosts by the guards sets up conflict that is sure to take place later on in the play. While most Shakespearean plays have to do with love and death, this particular play seems to be taking death to an extreme.



The essential question my class chose was: To be, or not to be? When is a life not worth living? Who Gets to Decide if Someone Should Live or Die? The whole play is basically about death, and killing people, and plotting to kill people, so i think that in this situation, there are many factors contributing to if someone will live or die. The ghost of Hamlet Sr is a large factor if whether Claudius will live or die, and whether or not Hamlet will actually go through with avenging his father's death also plays a large part in this decision.

Passage: HORATIO

That can I; At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, Whose image even but now appear'd to us, Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet-- For so this side of our known world esteem'd him-- Did slay this Fortinbras; who by a seal'd compact, Well ratified by law and heraldry, Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror: Against the which, a moiety competent Was gaged by our king; which had return'd To the inheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant, And carriage of the article design'd, His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in't; which is no other-- As it doth well appear unto our state-- But to recover of us, by strong hand And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands So by his father lost: and this, I take it, Is the main motive of our preparations, The source of this our watch and the chief head Of this post-haste and romage in the land.

I thought this passage was particularily interesting because it gives detail into the underlying tension between Hamlet and Fortinbras. It gives a background to what is taking place at the beginning of the play and it tells us more about the relationship between the two families.