Thinking Activity on "Hamlet"

Thinking Activity on  "Hamlet" 

                         Hamlet is tragedy written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare famous for his tragedies like Othello, Anthony and Cleopatra, coriolanus, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth etc. In his plays there is a mixture of tragedy and comedy. We have seen movie of Hamlet. This movie Hamlet directed by Kenneth Branagh. This movie based on Shakespeare's play Hamlet. We have seen "Hamlet" movie on 30th August. 

(1) How faithful is the movie to the original play? 

                 In this movie most of the part based on the original play Hamlet. But In movie Gertrude is happy with Claudius. And In the original play Gertrude is voiceless. There is no any one point found that Gertrude is happy with Claudius or Gertrude is sad with Claudius.  When king Hamlet dead. At that time she is sad or happy. When she is marries with Claudius.  She is really happy or upset. In movie she has a voice. But In play she is completely silent. She is involves in Claudius's plan to kill king Hamlet or she is not involves in Claudius's plan to kill king Hamlet. She is guilty or she is innocent. Claudius forces Gertrude to marry with him. Gertrude is really likes Claudius or not. These are the main questions. When we read original play during these questions raises. In movie Gertrude's character is totally different from original play. That is main questions or confusion. Without Gertrude's character whole movie based on the original play. Her silence raises a lot of questions. It creates a confusion.

(2) After watching the movie, have your perception about play, characters or situations changed? 

                  

                Yes, After watching movie my perception about play, characters or situations changed. When I did not see hamlet's movie. At that time ghost scene I can not understand. Is it really happens or not. Is it really hamlet sees a ghost of his father or not. It is doubtful. But after watching movie ghost scene is clear. Movie is helpful to  understand ghost scene. Movie is helpful for better understanding. 

(3) Do you feel 'asethetic delight' while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, you explain with reasons? 

                  Yes, I feel aesthetic delight while watching the movie. When Claudius kills his brother King Hamlet for Gertrude. Because he truly loves Gertrude. That's why he kills King Hamlet for his true love. He knows that King Hamlet his brother. Even though without any hesitation he kills King Hamlet. 

(4) Do you feel 'catharsis' while or after watching movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons? 

                  Yes, I feel catharsis in Hamlet movie. When Hamlet knew that Claudius kills his father. At that time Hamlet suffers internally. That's why he organised a drama and he wants to know that his uncle really kills his father or not. That's why he also tells Horatio to see Claudius's expressions during drama. When murder scene was played. At that time Claudius's facial expressions immediately changed and he is frightened. Hamlet understood that Claudius killed his father. And Horatio also agreed on Hamlet's point of view. In this scene I feel Catharsis.

(5) Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the play? 

                                                                                                         Yes, screening of movie help me to better understanding of the play. I movie situations, murder scenes all are played like original play. Without Gertrude's character all the characters performing like original play. All the characters played their role very well. Movie is directed very well. Movie is helpful to understand Hamlet's soliloquies, Ghost scene, Prayer scene, Bad chamber scene, polonius's, Laertes's, Ophelia's, Claudius's, Gertrude's, King Hamlet's, and Hamlet's murder scenes. So after watching movie confusion is clear. It is becomes easy to understand.                                                                    

(6) Was there any particular scene or moment in the movie that you will cherish life time? 

                           When a grave digger digging a grave of Ophelia at that time Hamlet came. And grave digger and hamlet starts taking with each other. During this conversation grave digger speaking some interesting dialogues. For grave diggers digging a grave is routine work. So they can not feel sorrow while gave digging. They enjoyed their work. They singing a song. It is a time of sadness for a family whose family member has died. But for a grave digger it is routine work. So they are not sad but they enjoy their work. This scene in the movie for me cherish lifetime. 

(7) If you director, what changes would you like to make in the remarking of movie on Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'? 

                             If I am director of the remarking of movie on Shakespeare's ' Hamlet' so I can changes some part of movie. Claudius kills king Hamlet. And then he marries with Gertrude. And he becomes king. That's why he takes revenge and kills claudius. Hamlet kills Claudius for revenge of his father. So he is right. He does right. Claudius got punishment of his crime. So I changes the end of the movie.  In movie hamlet is not dead. In the movie woman characters are voiceless and weak in comparison of man characters. So I gives equally voice and strength to woman characters. Ophelia is also not dead. And of the movie Hamlet and Ophelia are married. And Hamlet becomes king. 

(8) In the begining of the movie, camera rolls over the statue of King Hamlet outside the Elsinore Castle. The movie ends with the similar sequence where in the statue of King Hamlet is hammered down to the dust. What sort of symbolism do you read in this? (Clue: In Book IX of 'Paradise Lost', satan reflects on his revenge motive: "But what will not ambition and revenge, Descend to? Who aspires must down as low,  As high he soared, obnoxious, first or last, To baset things. Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter are long back on itself recoils." Is it not King Hamlet's ambition to avenge his death responsible for the downfall of his Kingdom which is symbolically pictured in last scenes?) 

                          In the beginning of the movie, camera rolls over the statue of king Hamlet outside the Elsinore castle. The movie ends with the similar sequence where in the statue of king Hamlet is hammered down to the dust. It suggests that for king Hamlet's revenge many innocent people are also dead. For his father's revenge Hamlet kills Polonius and also kills Claudius and also Laertes.  In between Gertrude and Ophelia also dead. For his father's revenge Hamlet leaves Ophelia. And Ophelia becomes mad. Hamlet is a reason of Ophelia's madness. And at the end of the movie Hamlet also dead for his father's revenge. And of the movie king Hamlet's broken statue suggest that it shows that his kingdom has collapsed. And king Hamlet's revenge motives becomes the reason of Downfall of his Kingdom.

(9) While studying the play through movie, which approach do you find more applicable to the play? Why? Give reasons with illustrations. 

                          While studying the play through movie Psychological Approach more applicable to the play. Because In the movie hamlet suffers internally. He is thinking man. He knew that Claudius kills his father. He wants to takes revenge. And when Claudius has to pray. Then Hamlet thinks to killing him. But then he thinks Claudius is praying do he will go to heaven. So Hamlet does not kill him. He is very close to finishing his revenge. When he is easily able to kills Claudius. At that time he starts thinking. Because of his thinking habit he is fails in his plan to kill Claudius. So Psychological Approach more applicable to the play. 

(10) Which of the above mentioned approaches (in pre-viewing task) appeals you more than other why? Give reasons. 

                            Psychological and Feminist approaches appeals me more than other. Because Hamlet is thinking man. He is taking with himself. He is easily able to kills Claudius. But at that time he starts thinking. Because of his thinking habit he is fails in his plan. And Claudius is survives. He is constantly thinking. He suffers internally for two reasons: first is his father's revenge and second is his mother marries with his uncle after the death of his father. 

    

                         In play woman characters are weak and voiceless. Because of Hamlet Ophelia becomes mad and she kills herself. And also there is no any explanation about Gertrude's real intention. That's why it is creates a big confusion. Ophelia becomes a tool of Polonius. In play man are dominant. And woman characters becomes victim of  man characters. According to me both approaches more applicable than others.