Blog #24: Hamlet Act 5 Social Media Post

Blog #23: Hamlet Act 4 Social Media Post

Dear Self,

Madness does not exist if it is not recognized by others. And her madness, Ophelia that is, is analyzed and deconstructed by one Peter J. Seng in "The Dramatic Function of Songs in Hamlet. 'Tis quite strange for a man to be writing about my life, but never-the-less, I have learned from his teachings.

A source of her ways is that brother who accused the legitimacy of our love. "For Hamlet, and trifling of his favor, hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood" (1.3.5-6). He proclaims this as if it were true. Furthermore, how can I not forgot the source of the source, thy father. Seng confirmed this conclusion as he states  it was her "...father's attempt to warn his daughter about the ways of the world, but it ends as a groundless slander" (Seng 221). Her father told her on more than one occasion "[his] remarks bear the same implications as his son's: no one is to be taken or trusted at face value" (Seng). Once again her father not only degrades me but also ridicules Ophelia as well by exclaiming, "Affection! Pooh, you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance"(1.3.101-102). These words are stained with drama yet like much drama, it hold no truth. 

However, Ophelia once has understood my actions towards her "my honored lord, you know right well you did, and with them words of so sweet breath composed" (3.1.99-101). Even though I hear the words she is forcing out, I have a hard time believing the integrity of those words. And with this doubt, I say, nay, assert that she "Get thee to a nunnery" (3.1.123). Seng reveals  "For Ophelia, as for Hamlet, Denmark had become a prison" Maybe Denmark is a prison for us both.

Ophelia. Is she worth it? Is she worth the pain and struggle. For one, I face much opposition for my desire. Either by her father or brother...or even my father. I mean a king's word is sound is it not? Is our fate one in the same or as distant as Claudius and mine? For now, I know not what events shall occur, but one item is for certain. Where there is love, heartache cannot be far behind.

-@hamLIT

Blog #22: Hamlet Act 3 Social Media Post

Imagery:

1) "For in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause"  In death’s sleep who knows what kind of dreams might come, after we’ve put the noise and commotion of life behind us.

2) "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows...or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them?" Is it nobler to put up with all the nasty things that luck throws your way, or to fight against all those troubles by simply putting an end to them once and for all?

Logos:

"When he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin" This quote shows logos by Hamlet making the a choice based on logic-whether or not to kill King Claudius.

Ethos:

"when we have shuffled off this mortal coil Must give us pause. There’s the respect

That makes calamity of so long life." Establishes ethos through this quote as the "we" and his already noble status builds his ethos.

Pathos:

"For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th' oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely," Hamlet if reflecting on the tremendous hardship he has faced recently and this quote, by exemplifying that emotion, adds pathos to the soliloquy.

Paradox:

Hamlet Sr. appears as a ghost in the play which is in contrast to Hamlet's belief that no one has ever risen from the dead.

Parallelism & The Infinitive:

Hamlet has to answer the question "To be, or not to be?". This means is it nobler to put up with all the nasty things that luck throws your way, or to fight against all those troubles by simply putting an end to them once and for all? However, this parallels to King Claudius who already answered this when he killed King Hamlet.

Synecdoche:

"flesh" is used to represent the whole body

Tone:

The overall tone of the soliloquy is confliction.

Diction:The word choice is used to create metaphors for the audience. Examples of these metaphors are listed below.

Metaphors:

1) “...slings and arrows...” represent the difficulties of everyone's lives.

2) Also, uses sleep to represent death.

Oppositions:

1) " And lose the name of action" Action vs Inaction and their consequences

2) The level of corruption in the society

3) Beyond death is unknown as no living man has experienced it.

Conclusion:

Hamlet concludes that when you think about an action, such as seeking revenge, for an extended period of time, inaction occurs instead.

Best Clip:

The best version of Hamlet is the 1996 version with Kenneth Branagh. The main reason that this is the best version is that it follow what Shakespeare intended and it was executed well. Shakespeare wrote Hamlet's soliloquy as an vocal conversation with himself. This is further explained in the section below. The other reasons that elevated this movie was the well chosen mis en scene choices made by the director. These include the omission of background music, having Hamlet being dressed in all black, and the fading of light throughout the soliloquy. The most impactful is the continuous over-the-shoulder shot and playing off the mirror to capture Hamlet's emotions. Also, there are no abrupt angle or audio changes which makes the soliloquy more continuous and free flowing, much like how a play would be acted out. For all these reasons, the 1996 Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet is best adaptation of one of Shakespeare's most impactful plays.

Other Clips:

The second best clip was the Laurence Olivier version released in 1948. Finally, the worst movie adaptation was the Ethan Hawke version. The major reason I did not like these two versions is that the Hamlet character in these two movies are talking to the camera during their soliloquy. They do this by breaking the "fourth wall" of film making. This goes against what Shakespeare intended as he wrote Hamlet's soliloquy as an vocal conversation with himself. This is done so we can get an insight into what Hamlet is thinking after the events that have occurred so far. I realize that breaking the fourth wall was a mis en scene choice by those two directors, but it was not executed effectively.  The 1996 version follows Shakespeare and the 1948 breaks the tie for last based on acting alone.

Blog #21: Hamlet Act 2 Social Media Post

Kill Bill: Vol. 1

"Revenge is never a straight line. It's a forest, And like a forest it's easy to lose your way... To get lost... To forget where you came in."-Hattori Hanzo

An entire wedding party is slaughtered during a dress rehearsal in a rural chapel: the pregnant woman in the blood-splattered wedding dress is Black Mamba, better known as The Bride. The assassin, Bill, and his circle known as The Vipers left The Bride for dead, but unluckily for them she was merely comatose. Four years later, The Bride suddenly awakens from her coma and realizes what has been done to her. She sets off on a ferociously focused mission, setting out to seek revenge on her former master and his deadly squad of assassins. One by one, she kills the various members of the assassin group. She saves Bill for last.

"Why, what an ass am I!...Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words." (2.2.545-548). I have revenge on my mind and my mind of revenge. The others can not see past the life of killing and bloodshed as I, and therefore, I am greatly punished. Only months for I, the Prince of Denmark, but four for her. Four. The number of years she has slept. Thinking. Plotting. How will she take back what is rightfully hers. "Bloody, bawdy villain! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!(2.2.541-542). Despite her success through merciless killing and torture, the societal class of us differ and thus, I must execute my revenge with caution and percision. "I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw"(2.2.351-352).

A scene from this volume which I hold must dear acts,

The Bride: [English] I've kept you alive for two reasons. And the first reason is information.

Sofie Fatale: [French] Burn in hell, blonde bitch! I'll tell you nothing!

The Bride: [English] But I am gonna ask you questions. And every time you don't give me answers, I'm gonna cut something off. And I promise you, they will be things you will miss. Give me your other arm!

[Sophie screams]

The following day Bill arrives:

Bill: If you had to guess where she was headed next, what would be your best guess?

Sofie Fatale: Guessing won't be necessary. She informed me. She said that I could keep my wicked life for two reasons...

[flashback]

The Bride: As I said before, I've allowed you to keep your wicked life for two reasons. And the second reason is so you can tell him in person everything that happened here tonight. I want him to witness the extent of my mercy by witnessing your deformed body. I want you to tell him all the information you just told me. I want him to know what I know. I want him to know I want him to know. And I want them all to know they'll all soon be as dead as O-Ren.

After much reflection I understand the mockery The Bride implements here. And, I have done due dilligence to do the same to the men behind the mirror. "He would drown the stage with tears/ And cleave the general ear with horrid speech" (2.2.521-522)  "The play’s the thing/ Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king (2.2.566-567).

Revenge, like my crown, in not only within reach, it is within my right.

Works Cited:"Kill Bill: Vol. 1." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

Blog #20: Hamlet Act 1 Social Media Post

Dear Self,

Let me reflect on the numerous events of the past couple days.  I see Horatio and state "Sir, my good friend—I’ll change that name with you And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?"(1.3.59) The most outstanding was the revelation of ghost Horatio claims to see.  As he relays to his close friends, "this bodes some strange eruption to our state" (1.1.83-85). The ghost, or confirmed my father, lives large on the ground in Elsinore. But what do I make of this. I have felt his loss for only his return to become even more heart renching. My mother know not of this yet to her commands of other things I reply "I shall in all my best obey you, madam.(1.2.41) "Seems, madam? nay, it is, I know not “seems.” ’Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forc’d breath,"(1.2.30) My mother seems to marry my uncle, stepfather, I know not what to call him. Sub-human seems most apt. "O that this too too solid flesh would melt,  Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d His canon ’gainst self-slaughter! O God, God, How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world!"(1.3.45-47).

Tweets:

1) Quote: "I am very glad to see you. Good even, sir. But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?"(1.2.164-165)

Tweet: @hamLIT to @Horatio100:1

reuniting with my bro #squadgoals #what'sonyourmind #tellme #igots2know

2) Quote: Claudius- "How is it that the clouds still hang on you?" (1.2.218)Tweet: @hamLIT to @Horatio100:1

he don't understand #sheldoncooper #dumbquestion #therearenodumbquestions #butthat'sadumbquestion

3) Quote: "But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son." (1.2.64).

Tweet: @hamLIT to @KingClaud9

Maury just said I'm not your son but I am your sun #feelthebern #ohnoIdidn't #sopunny

4) Quote:"Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolved itself into a dew" (1.2.129).

Tweet: @hamLIT to @KingClaud9

You can rule, just stop talking.

#shhhhh #byeFelicia #don't

5) Quote: "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murther" (1.4.761)

Tweet: @hamLIT to @honeybakedhamSR

family is forever #hamfam #familia #respect