Here is a link about voice: http://www.dailyblogtips.com/how-to-find-your-writing-voice/
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Act IV, scene iv - Hamlet's Soliloquy
Read IV.iv. Use this website for assistance: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/hamlet/page_228.html Be sure to take notes on your play!! Then, watch the film version of Hamlet's soliloquy. How did you envision this scene before viewing this clip? Is Kenneth Branagh's version similar to your initial interpretation? If so, why? If not, who would play your Hamlet and how would you have him say these lines? This response should touch upon this soliloquy's importance to character development.
Here is a link about voice: http://www.dailyblogtips.com/how-to-find-your-writing-voice/
Here is a link about voice: http://www.dailyblogtips.com/how-to-find-your-writing-voice/
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Ok, so this clip of Hamlet's soliloquy was, in my opinion, the corniest and over exaggerated version I have ever seen! Now, don't get me wrong Kenneth Branagh is a good actor, but he definitely over did this speech, and with the music playing, it looked and sounded like he was making a speech to the people of Denmark, which is certainly not what I envisioned. If they had taken that weird music out and instead of having Hamlet standing on what looks like an ice berg I think this part of the movie would have been more accurate to what I pictured the scene to look like.
ReplyDeleteIf it were up to me I would put Hamlet out in some kind of field where the soldiers were passing by in the distance and have him recite the soliloquy looking at them, because the whole point that Hamlet was trying to make was here's this Prince who is fighting for piece of land that will provide no benefits for his country, and while doing so he is risking the lives of twenty thousand men, and here's Hamlet who has this honorable cause, which is about THOUSAND times more honorable than Fortinbras's, and thats to avenge his father's death and he's doing absolutely nothing! So to have the soldiers marching by would reinforce the fact that these men are pretty much going to die for a purposeless cause that will only make Fortinbras look like a competent leader and that Hamlet needs to step it up set out to do what he promised his father's ghost, to kill Claudius.
When I read Hamlet's soliloquy i definitely did not imagine it like they portrayed it in the film clip. I felt that Shakespeare's diction in the soliloquy was more towards a sense of god, living, ability, power, and had nothing to do with being a hero. In the film clip I feel like they lost the whole meaning in this scene. Instead of showing another "real" moment of Hamlet they made it into a hero scene with all the background music. I believe that the film portrayed the scene terribly and if I were the director of the movie he would have been on a balcony with more emotion and depression. Due to the fact that he is trying to motivate himself to revenge the death of his father and really show a lot of emotion instead of being a "fake" hero which he is not.
ReplyDeleteI feel the clip made the soliloquy seem bad-ass, it might just be the setting, or the music in the background, but it just really hyped me up for what's to come. When I was reading I felt it was to get the audience excited for the next scene, and this could be my limited imagination, but I didn't feel it was so high energy, I thought it was Hamlets level headed assessment of the situation. This reminded me of Batman, on the roof tops saying the reason for his actions was his parents' deaths, which is why I could picture Christian Bale making a good Hamlet. In addition I felt this was more complaining of Hamlet's as well. I hope he mans up and kills Claudius, rather than just saying he'll do it.
ReplyDeleteWhere in the world is Hamlet?! This is not exactly how I envisioned the scene when I was reading it. I liked Hamlets tone and how he delivered the soliloquy but the stereotypical hero background music, Antarctic-type setting, and corn zoom out just over did it for me. When I read the scene I pictured Hamlet in an internal debate, more meant for himself to hear, and not like a speech as it was shown in the film version. I thought that his verbalized internal struggle became more apparent towards the second half of the soliloquy when he said, "To be truly great doesn’t mean you’d only fight for a good reason. It means you’d fight over nothing if your honor was at stake. So where does that leave me, whose father has been murdered and mother defiled, ignoring these mental and emotional provocations and letting well enough alone? (No Fear Shakespeare)" If I were directing this movie I probably would have had Hamlet be talking in a more hushed tone, arguing with himself and show him struggling to decide what to do with his life. He would not be outside. He would not be speaking like he is lecturing. And there would definitely not be that music.
ReplyDeleteI definitely imagine Hamlet speaking with a nobler tone than usual, but the film felt awkward and took the mood of the scene way too far. Yes, this motivational self-reflection is a big step for him, but the background music, building voice, and zoom out made me feel like I was watching Star Wars! In this huge empty area of land, Hamlet was standing alone, which would have been okay if he wasn’t remaining in one direction with his arms at his side. He still feels down on himself, and shouldn’t feel too heroic when he says, “I do not know why yet I live to say ‘This thing’s to do,’” since he feels he doesn’t even know why he’s alive at this point. At the very least, he should be pacing back and forth, moving his hands to his head, or doing something every once in a while to make it feel less stiff.
ReplyDeleteThe mood caused his speech to seem unnatural, which is exactly the opposite of what Shakespeare wanted. Shakespeare even gives any actor his exact instructions in Act III scene 2: “Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue. But if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines.” Hamlet even went on to say that he would whip anyone who overdid their lines, so things aren’t looking so great for Kenneth Branagh! I think someone who seems less heroic should be acting as Hamlet. Tom Cruise might do the soliloquy some justice, since he can act both noble and meager. After all, by the end of the scene, Hamlet put in all that motivational effort just to suggest that his thoughts be bloodier (without any sign of an actual deed).
When I first read the play I envisioned Hamlet seriously talking to himself, almost questioning his thoughts. He keeps on asking himself what he's doing and why he hasn't made a move yet on his revenge. He's finally noticing to cut the crap and lets go, he's been playing around with everyone for too long as if they're puppets. The movie version compares to about 50/50 of my opinion when I read. In the movie version Hamlet seems serious to questioning his own choices but they have the guy acting as if he's making a speech to an auditorium of people, Hamlet, you're all alone talking to yourself, you don't have to get too excited as if you're standing in front of thousands of people. If I was able to direct this part I wouldn't have Hamlet getting louder and louder and I wouldn't pan the camera outwards as if to make us think "where are the people? oh wait, he's alone." I would show Hamlet was alone but have him use body language and hand movements to really show himself conveying his message of "what is he doing?" to himself to help him realize if he wants to get revenge, now is the time.
ReplyDeleteThe dramatic music kinda creeps me out... and there is a lot more yelling and voice raising than I would imagine. Also, I'm not going to lie I have absolutely no idea where he is right now. I don't see Hamlet as this noble man in the way that Kenneth Branagh portrays him. In my mind, Hamlet is questioning his life. He's not sure of anything and to make this dramatic music and noble voice come out of a young adult seems extremely misleading to me. Hamlet is looking at Fortibras' army and wondering why they can kill and not think anything about it, but he has one deed to do as revenge and he can't seem to get it done. This soliloquy speaks a lot on Hamlet's character. I think it is a turning point, but I really didn't like this reading of the soliloquy. Someone less heroic and a lot more timid should have played this. In my opinion Mel Gibson did a good job as Hamlet and as much as I didn't like the 2000, modernized version of this play, I do think in a classic setting, Ethan Hawke would play a good Hamlet.
ReplyDeleteI really did not like that video that I just watched. Actually, I only partially watched it because when the actor got to about the 10th line in the soliloquoy he was yelling. This yelling makes the viewer believe that Hamlet is talking to others. The director's choice in music only enhanced that feeling that Hamlet was giving a....a war speech. I felt that he was trying to rally the troops or something. When I read the soliloquoy on my own, I could hear a small voice in my head. Hamlet's voice and it was full of self-doubt and self-loathing. Hamlet is basically questioning himself throughout the monologue, he even admits to being a coward. He admits that his cowardice is the reason he has not taken revenge yet.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, Hamlet is doubting himself, he is mad at himself for not taking his revenge yet. If the director wanted to truly portray Hamlet's character correctly he/she would have left out any background music and had Hamlet speak more quietly and had the actor sitting down, with his head in his hands looking pathetic. He say's it himself, he's a coward.
Kenneth Branagh's depiction of this scene was way off base of what I had in mind for this important soliloquy. The background and music was overpowering and I couldn't even concentrate on Hamlet. To be honest I had to watch the video a couple times before I even understood what Hamlet was saying, because I was so fixated on the music and how bizarre it was. I almost felt as if I was watching a propaganda piece. In Branagh's version, Hamlet is staring out to space and has no emotion. In the play, Hamlet states "How stand I then, That have a father killed, a mother stained, Excitements of my reason and my blood, And let all sleep" and furthermore stating: "Oh, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!." That's really deep and insightful. We are let into Hamlet's inner most thought and feeling but in the movie version, however, it feels as if he is ranting about nothing. In Branagh's depiction, he is progressively zooming out the shot towards the end so by the time Hamlet says these crucial lines, he is nothing but a dot on the horizon, which I feel is stupid. In my opinion, the camera should be zoomed in on Hamlet and he should be talking slow, with meaning and emotion rather than screaming.
ReplyDeleteThis was not the way i invisioned the scene at all. The scene was extremely weird. I did not like the music, or the setting. It was almost like he was on top of the clouds trying to be God-like or something. He seemed a lot more serious than usual. I was expecting the usual crazy Hamlet for the scene and was suprised when I watched it. When Hamlet said, "From now on, if my thoughts aren’t violent I’ll consider them worthless" it kind of made me feel like Hamlet was going from crazy to evil which I think will come out in him killing more. I think Hamlet has people wrapped around his finger. Everyone is kinda of on edge to see what he will do next. I could see Ryan Gosling playing Hamlet because right now he is the best looking male alive, and he is a very good actor. I think he would do a good job of portraying emotion just like how he did in The Notebook !
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading Hamlet’s soliloquy I pictured Hamlet to be talking normally to himself, still trying to decipher between right and reason. When I first played the clip I was listening along rather than watching it and when I finally looked up I was completely confused with where Hamlet actually was and what he was doing. Rather than following along and listening to his speech I was too distracting by all the effects and scenery. I think that Kenneth Branagh defiantly killed this scene and made it way too dramatic. This featured Hamlet is nothing like the Hamlet we’ve been reading about. I think that this is an important scene and Hamlet’s character development in the play is obvious, but isn’t well portrayed in this film version. If I were to produce this scene I would have Aaron Eckhart play (the actor who played Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight) Hamlet because I think he well portrays a good character that goes bad/insane.
ReplyDeleteOkay so the music in the background was really lame and made the scene too theatrical and not enough about what he was really saying. I think he should have been more intense and dark about it instead of screaming it in such a triumphant tone. When I was reading it, I pictured him to be upset with himself and be envying the soldiers because he is saying that he wants to be more like them and just kill without any second thoughts. In this movie it seemed like he was proud of himself despite his words because of the background and his tone of voice. When he says, "From now on, if my thoughts aren’t violent I’ll consider them worthless," I envisioned him to be going crazy and have this creepy almost demonic voice because it's so evil. I think the soliloquy is really important because at this point I think we were all questioning Hamlet on whether or not he was going to kill Claudius since he was so willing to leave his home but now I think he is going to go through with it. I also don't like that he's so old, his hair looks white.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t help but laugh when I watched this scene. I mean how much cornier could you get? Epic battle music, a slow dramatic zoom out, a weird setting, and all of that shouting. The lines of the scene most definitely add to Hamlet’s character development because it shows that he’s bothered by how he hasn’t acted on his father’s command, and he’s also bothered by the fact that he’s pretty much a pansy. But the way that it is portrayed in the scene isn’t how I pictured it at all. I pictured Hamlet in a random room, whispering quietly to himself. When you have a serious conversation with yourself, or just really deep thoughts, I don’t think you’d be standing on a mountain top screaming at the top of your lungs. Of course I also pictured a young Leonardo Dicaprio, like 1996 Titanic Leo... not creepy Inception Leo, because that would be the most aesthetically pleasing.
ReplyDeleteWhen first reading this scene, I pictured Hamlet to be serious and truly feeling pain and confusing as to what he should do with himself. When Hamlet says, "When honour's at stake. How stand I then, That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd...," I feel as if his sadness would overcome the scene knowing how upset he had been about his father’s death. In Kenneth Branagh's clip it is a completely different interpretation of the scene that I would have never envisioned myself. First of all, I do not understand the scenery of Hamlet being in the snow. He seems very out of place. Also the way he had the music continuously playing behind Hamlet made the scene seem less important and not as deep as it should have been. I do not think this actor did a good job at all in acting out this soliloquy because he did not have any emotion. I pictured Hamlet to be sitting somewhere, such as his room, deep in thought and speaking softly to himself. Instead this man is yelling lines that seem so much deeper, such as the one I referred to above. I just believe that there was no emotion in this clip at all. It missed the main point of Hamlets soliloquy because of all the unnecessary dramatic music, camera zooming, and yelling. It took away Hamlets emotion which is very important for his character development for this play.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, this is not how I envisioned this soliloquy playing out. When I read it to myself I saw Hamlet going crazy. I pictured him doing something along the lines of pacing back and forth in a dark room..I think that would have created a much more intense scene. Instead, the director had to make it corny. He put in obnoxious music and zoomed the camera out on Hamlet. Doing this made Hamlet seem like more of a Hero when really he's trying to face an inner struggle at that moment. I think I would say that the movie clip ruined the entire scene because it didn't show Hamlet's true feelings. When he said "From now on, if my thoughts aren’t violent I’ll consider them worthless," that's a huge turning point for him and the movie clip didn't recognize that. Wow I just really bashed that movie clip.
ReplyDeleteIt sounded like Hamlet was president and was giving like a presidential speech with the music. Once he started to scream it kind of made me not interested why would I want someone screaming at me when they could get the same point across by talking normally. The scene and the background seemed like it didn't have anything to do with the actual play. It seemed like it was a random backdrop just put up to make it seem like he was on top of the world. He seems like he was kind of joking around and not so serious because he was talking to so loudly. Out of all the clips we have seen so far i think this could be one of the worst ones. I watched the video a couple times before i could focus on what he was actually saying. If it wasn't for that one website that explains what they are actually saying i don't think i would have caught on because of him screaming totally had me not wanting to pay attention. It seemed almost comedic to me with all the screaming like it could have been played by Adam Sandler like in Anger Management when he gets all mad. It could have been played by him because it was that much of a funny clip.
ReplyDeleteI think the movie director didn't get this whole soliloquy. Soliloquies are suppose to be done so the audience can understand what's going on in the character's head, and they are suppose to be alone. The movie version made it seem like he was giving a presentation. The music made it seem like Hamlet is like a hero, but in my opinion he is anything but that. He has never acted and can not seek revenge for his father. It is taking him forever, so I don't understand why the movie made it seem like he was "all that." I also don't get why he is dressed in black and the background is all white. That doesn't make sense. You lose the sense of seriousness of this soliloquy as he is screaming, the music is getting louder, and the director is zooming out. There is too much going on and the audience can not pay attention to Hamlet's words. I know I thought of Hamlet by himself hunched over at the beginning and then standing up towards the end as he finally musters up the courage to act upon his words. I really just don't understand the setting of the movie and I can't get passed it. Hamlet is practically saying how all he is going to think about is killing a man, and the movie just has him standing in the middle of a white field screaming. It doesn't evoke the emotion Shakespeare intended.
ReplyDeleteThis was my favorite soliloquy of Hamlet's because he finally had a reality check and his craziness seemed to disappear. This shows that he still has been putting on the antic disposition, and it was nice to finally be exposed to his real self and true emotions again! I envisioned Hamlet sitting in a dark room, watching the troops go by in this scene. Once I watched the film version, not only was I surprised, but I seriously hated it. It was confusing and didn't do justice for what he was feeling in this moment. This is a soliloquy where Hamlet is disappointed in himself for not getting revenge. The music sounded triumphant though, and Hamlet is saying that he wasn't a hero, so the music contradicted what he was saying. I think that's just poor interpretation, because I can't see any other meaning in his soliloquy besides him regretting not acting on his desires. The scenery was stupid. Hamlet was clearly somewhere that he could see the troops, and I'm almost positive that that wouldn't be at the peak of a mountain. The actor wasn't as bad as the music was, in my opinion. If it were just silence in the background or sadder music, I would be able to understand the meaning of his speech. It was somewhat overdone, but I think Hamlet should be extremely emotional. If I were to pick an actor to reproduce this soliloquy I would choose George Clooney. When I saw "The Descendants," I was touched and cried throughout the entire movie. His emotions seemed so real and because Hamlet is an emotional guy, that's important.
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DeleteWhile reading hamlets soliloquy, I envisioned Hamlet upset with himself and frustrated. I saw Hamlet pacing around and mumbling while trying to talk himself into killing Claudius. Hamlet is pissed that he was able to just killed Polonius and not care but, he can’t kill Claudius who murdered his father. This video clip is not what, I think, Shakespeare would have wanted at all. The clip seems like a presidential speech that was rehearsed. When I envisioned the soliloquy, Hamlet was talking to himself frantically, he had more emotion, and he wasn’t in Antarctica. Hamlet also seemed like he was addressing an invisible audience when he was talking. In my opinion, this soliloquy serves the purpose of showing Hamlet doubting himself and by making him address an invisible audience the fact that he is frustrated with his actions is completely lost. Robert Pattinson should play hamlet because he would portray Hamlet as mysterious and smart, and would make him seem less like he’s running for president
ReplyDeleteI dont enjoy this interpretation of the soliloquy. One, I really didn't enjoy the orchestra blasting in the background, it it wasn't the way i pictured it. When Hamlet said "Oh from this point if my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth" I didn't think of it as a cheerful/hurrah moment, but I imagined a more powerful angered tone/ mood. Hamlets supposed to be pissed of at him self for being a coward and not slaying his King Claudius. But here Kenneth Branagh's making it seem like a positive pep talk. In my opinion if there was more emotion such as embarrassment in his face perhaps a redness or clutched fists when he goes on about how these men are fighting for something that's completely WORTHLESS, a patch of land that cannot carry out anything, but they're doing it for honor. Yet here he is with the best reasons to get revenge, and he cannot pluck the nerves away and carry out this task. In the beginning of the scene Hamlet says"what is a man, if his chief good and market of his time but to be sleep and feed? A beast no more." I pictured Hamlet to pretty much be kicking himself in the ass this whole soliloquy and at the final moment pulling himself back up to reorganize himself with strategy inorder to kill the king, Instead of thinking mad, he's going to have thoughts of gore and blood lurking in his mind to prepare himself.
ReplyDeleteAlright, my first question is who thought it was a good idea to cast Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet(an even better question would be who thought it was a good idea to bleach his hair..)?! He portrays Hamlet in that scene as if he were some noble war hero when in reality he's just some broken young man suffering with the grim thoughts of his own mind. It doesn't really matter where Hamlet is in the scene, what bothers me is his body language. The dudes just standing there shouting into nothing with his arms at his sides, how in any way does that show just how distressed Hamlet is? I love the BBC version because David Tennant is such an amazing actor and does justice to Hamlet. He's skinny and wild, kind of like his character. Hamlet is a bit out of control and Tennant does a wonderful job of showing that in his interpretation. Branagh is kind of just chilling there like "yeah I have problems, let me shout them at you".
ReplyDeleteI did not envision this scene to be at all like what the clip directed by Kenneth Branagh was like. When reading the soliloquy, I envisioned Hamlet to be talking to himself more calmly and not screaming in a dramatic speech. I personally thought that Hamlet was more commenting in a calm way on how upsetting men are in that they will risk their vulnerable lives for a cause that is not anywhere worth the risk. I personally think that Johnny Depp would play a good Hamlet. Johnny Depp is a very versatile actor and I think he could deliver these lines very well. If I were to decide how the lines should be said, I think that they should be softer and not as dramatic. Johnny Depp sometimes plays a strange almost crazy character in most of his films and I think that, if portrayed correctly, he could highlight Hamlet's antic disposition and insane side.
ReplyDeleteThe clip was different from what I felt from the play. I don’t like how the scene was played out in the clip because I thought it was a little odd and corny. The music, scenery and extra effects took away from the importance of the scene and of his character development. I think that because Hamlet is going crazy, or at least everyone thinks he is going crazy, that he could get the people around him to do whatever he told them too and I think they are a scared of him. From this scene, I feel as though Hamlet might be becoming not only crazy but also a bit evil. I think that he wants to get revenge on everyone around him just out of anger from the death of his dad. He wants everyone to feel the pain that he has felt. I would have Sam Worthington (in Man on Ledge) play Hamlet because he would do a good job adding to the suspense of the play.
ReplyDeleteThe clip was pretty different from what I envisioned the scene to be like. Instead of having intense/triumphant background music and having him scream in the middle of the deserted hillside, I envisioned him quietly forming his ideas/goals. I believe that Shakespeare's intent was to not make Hamlet seem like a guy who's going mad with passion for this idea, but is rather finally deciding to carry out his plans instead of overthinking them and doing nothing like he usually does. Also in the speech, I sensed a tone of embarrassment in the fact that Hamlet was ashamed that 20,000 men can fight for a stupid cause while he can't even try to take action to his own worthy cause. The movie version showed too much passion and pointless yelling, and not enough of the other emotions that Hamlet was displaying, like embarrassment and shame.
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ReplyDeleteKenneth Branagh portrayed the soliloquy much differently then what I thought it would be like when I was reading the play. While reading the play I thought Hamlet would be speaking quietly as if he was reflecting on the situation. I would have David Tennant play hamlet because he is the one I pictured while thinking of the scene and he was in the other movie we have watched.
ReplyDeleteThe movie version of Hamlet’s soliloquy was kind of weird because Hamlet just stands there talking, and he doesn’t really gesture that much, although the tone of his voce was really good. The background music was kind of funny and it made Hamlet’s speech sound strong and powerful with emotion. I also didn’t like how he was standing there with just mountains near him; I just thought that was really plain. While reading his soliloquy I pictured a scene much more different than that of the film clip. I pictured Hamlet standing on a balcony pacing back and forth while saying his speech and it was much more dramatic. I thought this speech was really significant because Hamlet explains that God created human knowledge and it’s starting to look like he isn’t crazy after all. He does sound like he’s making a good point in his speech. He also says how Norway is fighting for a piece of land that isn’t worth anything, and that many lives will be lost.
ReplyDeleteThe Director of the film definitely didn't understand how this scene was supposed to play out. While reading the play I thought that he would be almost whispering to himself while he thought of the goals and plans for the future. The scene in the movie was hysterical and obviously its not supposed to be because this is a really important soliloquy. Hamlet is screaming at himself like he is in front of a huge crowd, the background had no meaning to it, and the music was overdramatic and unnecessary! I think the actor is fine, but the director should have just read the play and realized what shakespeare was trying to portray, or he should have had someone explain to him because this is completely off.
ReplyDeleteThe Kenneth Branagh movie scene made me feel like i was watching Hamlet's thoughts. The soliloquy is about how he feels trapped in his mind, unable to take any action without thinking excessively. He isolates himself in his thoughts, which is why he's portrayed on top of a stormy mountain with nothing else in sight. I get a very 'teen angst' vibe from the speech. Hamlet is mad that he can't muster up the will to take his revenge, and just gets mad about it. His foul thoughts are only furthered by what he just heard about Fortinbras. Compared to him, Hamlet feels like a wimp. His self-loath leads him to turn to extremes, and vows to become violent in every way. Rash thoughts and actions show Hamlet's true mental state, trying to make sense of everything around him and trying all sorts of extremees to work out his personal problems. To us as young adults, i find it to be a relatable situation. We've all been in similar spots in our lives, so having this soliliquy develops Hamlet's character and helps the audience connect with him from their real world experiences.
ReplyDeleteKenneth Branagh's depiction of Hamlets soliloquy gave almost the impression of comedy rather than bravado. As it appears, the director tries valiantly to create a mood and feeling of awe in the audience. Unfortunately, I feel he accomplished the opposite. I believe like where he was set, plus the over-dramatic music made the whole scene seem stupid and completely contrary to what I imagined when reading the play. So much that I wonder if the director even read the actual play.
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