Sophia+Angleton

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Hamlet Blog Post #3:

I have to say I have really enjoyed the class performances of Hamlet. Putting a visual to the text really helps me understand it. As I watched my class's performances of Hamlet, one in particular stood out to me. Molly, Taylor, and Nick's modern version of Polonius's death was not only entertaining but insightful. In order to capture the madness of the play they made each character a different ethnicity/backround. The clashing accents and personalities of the character's was an excellent visual of how crazy Hamlet's world really is.

As I have stated in earlier posts my class's essential question is: "What is insanity? and Who has the right to judge what is mad?"

Hamlet is living in a crazy court. His father was murdered, and two months later his mother is married to his father's brother. Everyone is acting as if everything is completely normal, with no tears left for the old king and only smiles for the new king and his bride.

At the end of my last blog I posed the question would Hamlet be crazy to not confront the current situation. His father suddenly dies and his mother marries his uncle within two month and no one gets why he is upset? Perhaps it's others that are crazy not Hamlet? Or are they in denial.. Does that make them crazy?

Is Hamlet crazy to want to escape the madness of his world through death? Can you blame him? Is he a black she in the court and crazy, or is he the only sane one?

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th'unworthy takes,

This small excerpt is a good overview of the present state of Denmark. The insolence of office is an interesting phrase. It took me a while to understand what it meant. I believe it means the way power allows evil to go unpunished, as in the case of Hamlet's uncle. It's funny because most of the "To be or not be" speech is very metaphorical, but this part is concrete. It directly describes Hamlet's strife. To be honest I don't blame Hamlet for pondering killing himself. Thoughts like these would normally be signs of mental instability but it seems if Hamlet continues to live in the crazy court he will go crazy. Maybe killing himself is a way to stay sane.

I know I posted pictures like these earlier but it really is all in the way you see it......



**Who sees is right? Who is __really__ MAD???!!!**


Hamlet blog post number 2:

Okay well, to be honest I was really, really not looking forward to reading Hamlet, but it is really not that bad. I think it's because I can actually understand what is going on (I did not anticipate this!) Reading in class is very helpful. :0)

As we read the ghost scene with Hamlet and his father, I was really curious as to how Shakespeare pictured the ghost. Some show the ghost as a said old man who is heartbroken, and others a warrior full of anger and malice. The modern film version of Hamlet was gave a depiction like the latter, but I don't necessarily agree with either. I think the ghost is sad and hurt, but from his pain becomes angry. I believe the ghost is a mix of the first and second version. The King is a more interesting and complex character than depicted; he is not flat and one- sided.



My periods essential question is..... What is insanity? who has the right to judge what is mad?

So far most of the discussion around the question has been about Hamlet, but I believe some the other characters are equally as intriguing to explore this question with.

Is the ghost of the King mad to want to force his son to avenge him?

Is Ophelia mad to think Hamlet does really care about her?

I think the most interesting character to explore this question with is the Queen. Her husband just passed away, but she has happily married his brother with no qualms what so ever. Or so it appears.....

137 Possess it merely. That it should come to this! 138 But __**two months dead**__: nay, not so much, not two: 139 So excellent a king; that was, to this, 140 Hyperion to a satyr; __**so loving to my mother**__ 141 That he might not beteem the winds of heaven 142 Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth! 143 Must I remember? why, she would **__hang on him__**, 144 As if increase of appetite had grown 145 By what it fed on: and yet, within a month— 146 Let me not think on't—__**Frailty, thy name is woma**__n!— 147 A little month, or ere those shoes were old 148 With which she follow'd my poor father's body, 149 Like Niobe, __**all tears**__:—why she, even she— 150 O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, 151 Would have **__mourn'd longe__**r—__**married with my uncle**__, 152 **__My father's brother__**

I find it hard to believe in the mental and emotional stability of someone was so in love with her husband, could within two months be madly in love with someone else. In most of the film adaptations of Hamlet the Queen appears to be a silly, giddy, and lovesick woman. Perhaps the Queen's new infatuation is a mask for guilt, pain, or nothing, no conscience. Don't all three options make her mad? Would Hamlet be mad to not speak out against his mother's actions?!!!

Well where to begin. First off I am just curious is somewhat incestual relationships between Ophelia and Laertes and Hamlet and his mother are in other versions of Hamlet? Because incest can lead to health problems and even madness, just kind of ironic because that’s what my essential question is about.... :)

Second off, after reading the opening scene of Hamlet I was immediately reminded of "Turn of the Screw." I began to question the reliability of Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus. How do we know hey aren't crazy, faking it, or simply experiencing it all in their heads and building off of each other?

After I began questioning all three characters I thought of my period’s essential question: What is insanity? Who has the right to judge what is mad?

Who was I to come into Hamlet knowing absolutely nothing except its a Shakespeare play and that many people die, and immediately start questioning characters? Can I, an outsider with no knowledge, fairly jump to the conclusion that these men are mad? NO!

I read the scene once questioning and once taking things at face value. I felt like I was reading a completely different work the second time. The first time, I was watching three loony bins and the second I was in an enthralling ghost scene. When we write people off as crazy we miss a lot. On the other hand jumping on the bandwagon is never good. At what point do I know enough to judge who is mad in Hamlet? Can I, years later and an outside,r do so? Are our modern standards different? I don’t know if I can every fairly judge any of the characters; I think that is an impossible task. I hope as I keep reading I can find the balance between cynic and bandwagon to fairly judge Hamlet and his world.

Many of the greatest minds in history have been called mad…….



Its all in the way you see it……. ;)