Evan+Smith


 * Funny Signs **

** Hamlet Blog #4 ** ** February 20, 2012 **

This week we finished Hamlet and saw the famous scene where everyone dies. After reading and watching the whole play I have to say that I actually enjoyed Hamlet more than I thought I would. While the end is kind of depressing with all the main characters dying, the play overall is still very good. One big question I had this past week was whether Ophelia really drowned by accident or whether she committed suicide. I find myself leaning towards the idea that she committed suicide because she did seem to have gone somewhat crazy before her death. In her weakened state of mind she may not have even been totally aware of the fact that she was killing herself. Also, how does Gertrude know so much about how Ophelia died? If she really saw Ophelia fall into the stream, why didn’t she rush out and save her? It all just seems a little weird to me. The end of the play has several connections to my classes’ essential question. The obvious one is that in the end, Hamlet seems to convince even himself that he is crazy, thus changing his reality. Also, in the final scene we see the Queen’s perception of reality change somewhat. After she drinks the poisoned wine, she quickly realizes that the King was trying to kill Hamlet. In the queen’s final minutes we see her perception of reality change to realize that her husband was trying to kill her son and that Hamlet was right about Claudius’s murder of King Hamlet.

Laertes: He is justly served; It is a poison temper'd by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and my father's death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me

This passage is the last thing that Laertes says before he dies. I found it interesting because it is pretty much Laertes asking for forgiveness from Hamlet and saying that he is glad to see the King dead because he is to blame for everyone’s death. Laertes also goes out of his way to say “noble Hamlet” showing that he respects Hamlet.



** Hamlet Blog #3 **
 * February 12, 2012 **

This week’s readings and performances of Hamlet added several new complexities to the plot. First of all, Hamlet seems to have gone completely crazy. However, I continue to question whether he is really just trying to act crazy or whether he has actually convinced himself that he is crazy to the point where he really is crazy. Also, this week we saw the descent of Ophelia’s mental state and ultimately her death. I was left wondering if she really drowned by accident or did she maybe commit suicide in her weakened state of mind. Another big question from this week is why has Hamlet passed up several chances to kill Claudius? It almost seems as though he is scared to actually kill him. There were many parts of this week’s passages that relate to my classes essential question of how can our perception of reality change reality. As I have already mentioned above, I am starting to wonder if Hamlet may really be going crazy because he is actually convincing himself he is crazy by acting so. If so this is probably the clearest example yet of how someone’s perception of reality, in this case Hamlet’s, can actually change reality to be that he really is insane. Have you forgot me? No, You are your husband's brother's wife; And--would it were not so!--you are my mother. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge **QUEEN GERTRUDE** What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me? Help, help, ho!
 * QUEEN GERTRUDE **
 * HAMLET **



I chose to look at this passage because it shows the complex relationship between Hamlet and his mother. It starts with the queen asking if Hamlet has forgotten her and Hamlet responds that he hasn’t because more than her being the wife of his uncle, she is also his mother. Gertrude then replies in a fearful manner, asking if he is going to murder her. I feel this passage shows the very complex, sometimes awkward, and often tense relationship between hamlet and Gertrude.

** Hamlet Blog #2 ** ** "Bad Parenting" ** ** February 5, 2012 ** I feel like this week we really started to get into the heart of the plot of Hamlet. We moved beyond the introduction of characters to more of the conflicts that become important to the story. This week we learned a lot more about the ghost and his intentions. The fact that he is asking his son to kill Claudius seems a little weird to me. By today’s standards, that would definitely be considered very bad parenting. Hamlet also seems to be very confused by his mother’s actions following his father’s death. Within days of her husband’s death, she had already remarried to her deceased husband’s brother. To Hamlet, this must seem like the ultimate betrayal by his mother. Again, by today’s standards, this would also be considered very bad parenting. Overall, it seems like Hamlets parents are not being positive figures in his life and are ultimately responsible for the fate of Hamlet and all the other people who die. As for my classes essential question, “how can our perception of reality change reality”, the question of the ghosts existence as I discussed in my previous post remains an issue. Hamlet still only perceives the ghosts existence after he is prompted to by others. Also, after Hamlet finally sees his father’s ghosts and interacts with it, he still seems to remain a little uncertain of its existence. **Ghost:** I find thee apt, And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear. 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forgèd process of my death Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.

This passage is where the ghost tells Hamlet that his uncle actually killed him. The first line, “I find thee apt”, is the ghost’s way of saying, I’m glad you are excited to hear what I have to say. He then goes on to say that it was not a poisonous snake that bit him while he slept. He uses the line “the serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown” to mean that the person who killed him, is now wearing the crown of king.

** Hamlet Blog #1 ** January 19,2012 After reading the beginning of Hamlet and watching the Sparknotes video this week, I feel like I have an okay grasp on the overall plot of the play. However, I also feel like this is a very complex plot with so many little details that it may be hard to always keep track of what is happening. The Ethan Hawke version of the film reinforced these feelings, as I often found myself feeling a little lost while watching it. The mix of the original Shakespearean speaking style in a contemporary setting is really just weird and made for a not so enjoyable movie. You can watch the cheesy ending for yourself below! media type="youtube" key="ds5nhGEk0Bc" height="315" width="420" In the part of the play we have read so far (Act 1 Scene 1&2), the ghost of Hamlets father appears to several guards on watch. When the ghost first appears, Bernardo and Marcellus both comment on the ghosts presence. Bernardo then says "Looks it not like the king? Mark it, Horatio" thereby prompting Horatio to speak of the ghosts presence. This ties in to my classes ’ essential question of "how can our perceptions of reality change reality?" Horatio only speaks of the ghost after he is prompted to do so, bringing up the question of if the ghost really exists. It seems as though Bernardo and Marcellus have a different perception of reality that they then use to change Horatio views of reality to convince him that the ghost really does exist.

__**Marcellus:**__ Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us: Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes of this night; That if again this apparition come, He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

I chose to analyze this passage because I believe it also is related to my classes’ essential question. This passage is said by Marcellus to explain why Horatio is there. The first two lines are Marcellus saying that Horatio does not believe him that there is a ghost. He then goes on to say that he therefore invited Horatio along to see for himself. In the fifth line he says to “watch the minutes of this night” meaning not literally to watch the minutes go by but more figuratively to watch for some period of time that night. Marcellus then ends by saying “he may approve our eyes and speak to it” meaning simply that when he sees it then he will know that they are not lying.