Thinking Activity of :" Hamlet"

Kenneth Branagh's 'Hamlet' based on 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare.

• Introduction:

                                     Everyone passing through comedy and tragedy during the life. But we don't like painful condition in our lives. Mostly, due to our mistake, there is a lot of pain in life. A tragedy is generally for that person  who has lot of good virtue and quality but also he has one poor habit and quality. It's called "Tragic Flaw." The same condition in Denmark and Shakespeare wrote many tragedy. His most famous tragedy is that the tragedy of Hamlet 'Prince of Denmark'. He change the flat history by the way of imaginative words. So, Let's talk about "Hamlet". 

• Chief Character:

      1.] Claudius- King of  Denmark

      2.] Gertrude - Queen of Denmark

      3.] Polonius - father of Ophelia and laertes

      4.] Laertes - Son of Poloniu

      5.] Ophelia - Daughter of Polonius

      6.] Horatio - Good friend of Hamlet

      7.] Rosencrantz & Guildensten - Childhood friends of Hamlet

      8.] Fortinbras - Norwegian crown prince

Q.1] How faithful is the movie to the original play? 

Ans.:-
                                     This film was completed by Kenneth Branagh's. It is over 4 hours long film and Shakespeare's world of Hamlet is fully presented in this film. Dialogues, Scene, Plot, Sub-plot of Original text are depiction in the film. 

                              But...I believe that, We don't tell that movie is copy as Original text because Kenneth Branagh's use different style of costume, showing ceremonies of rich people,the real Prince Hamlet in the play who is very young, used environment of Victorian age, Victorian background and Palace...etc.  

                 

Q.2] After watching the movie,have your perception about play,                      characters or situations changed?

Ans.:-

                             Yes, after watching the movie my perception about play, character and situations changed because While watching movie I can't think about the Director 's resourcefulness and the presences of ghost is shown by the movement of the sword of the status whereas in the play. Another things is that Nunnery Scene, Mirror Scene, Hamlet and murder of Polonius, Ophelia's behavior during Madness and last Scene How to death's of Claudius? it's presented very good imaginative by Director.

     

 Q.3] Do you feel"aesthetic delight'' while watching the movie ?   

Ans.:-

                                     In Hamlet in the play within the play I felt aesthetic delight because When Grave maker conversation with hamlet and he gives comedy types answer of Hamlet, he sings love song in the grave at that time I feel aesthetic delight. Another Scene like as When players are performing the incident which relates to the life of Claudius there are king Claudius face feels fearful and something wrong realized , Hamlet is powerful player and actor in this film.

Q.4] Do you feel 'catharsis' while or after watching movie?

Ans.:-

                             Yes, I feel catharsis while watching movie in Act-4 when Hamlet distinct to take revenge. Another scene is that Ophelia became mad. Ophelia's madness sorrowful condition.Hamlet also says abusing words for her. She suffered internally. In first act Hamlet says:

                 ''I had must hold my tongue!''

 ''Break my heart !''

                      

Q.5] Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the              play?

Ans.: - 

                                    Yes, It is the great way of the learning because I honestly says that while We didn't read original text book and that's the way through the screening of movie We can see the each and every action of the play. Most of the time We have only imagination of character and incidences but when We saw screening of movie help to clarify better understanding of the character and play.

Q.6] Was there any particular scene or moment in the movie that you will cherish lifetime?

Ans.:-  

                                         When Horatio tries to explain Hamlet that if your mind dislike anything so here I can say that Horatio and Hamlet have good friendship. Always Horatio helps to Hamlet. Another character is his beloved Ophelia. She treasured to Hamlet in many scene  of  the movie.

Q.7] If you are director, what changes would you like to make in the remarking of movie on Shakespeare's "Hamlet"?

Ans.: -                    

                                 If I am a director, first of all I make to strong character of Horatio and Ophelia. May be Ophelia advised of her father and  brother for his duty. I will try to Hamlet became a king of Denmark  then he revenge his uncle without deaths of unnecessary character. Another things is that very short conversation among the character. I put love song and romantic music during love affairs between Hamlet and Ophelia. I  don't present death of Hamlet.

Q.8] In the beginning of the movie, camera rolls over the statue of king Hamlet out side the Elsinore castle. The movie ends with the similar sequence  wherein the statue of  the king Hamlet is hammered down to the dust. What sort of symbolism do you read in this? [ Clue: In book IX "Paradise  Lost",  Satan reflects on his revenge motive: " But what will not ambition  and revenge; Descend to? Who aspire must down as low; As high he soared, obnoxious, first or last, To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, bitter ere 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?] 

Ans.:-     

                           

                                  This  creativity by director, may be he tries to say that revenge is never end with the happiness. In   beginning of the movie, camera rolls over the status of king Hamlet outside the Elsinore castle and the end of the movie with the similar sequence  the status  is hammered down to dust. So We can says that there were no remain  heir of King hamlet and may be he had ends of rule over Denmark.

                             Percy Shelly describe in his poem 'Ozymandias" that the status of the king broken into small pieces. His status is lying all alone in the desert. 

                      

                               Thus, I can say that the fallen status of king hamlet is responsible for own fall.

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

Ans.:- 

                                          Before watching the movie  I never thought about Hamlet behavior. When I  watched movie Hamlet is so cruel with his mother and his beloved Ophelia. In this film his mother says that :

               

                    "I can't image anyone to behave like this this with his                    or her mother."

                                        Hamlet also used abusing words with Ophelia and his mother. He is shocked when remarried after the death of king Hamlet. Here are question is that Why can't women  remarried ? Why it is crime only for women? therefore I found feminist approach, Political approach more applicable. Here are look how badly  behave Hamlet with his mother.            

                      

Q.10] Which of the above mentioned approaches[ in Pre- viewing task] appeals you more than other?Why? Give reason.

Ans.:-

                                     My Opinion about mentioned approaches is that philosophical and Psychological approach are more than the other approaches because All soliloquies of Hamlet I found this approaches more applicable. Firstly Hamlet have thinking habits, his confession towards the ghost, the ghost speaking truth or not ...all this things are philosophical approach. All Hamlet behavior's with uncle, his mother, friends, Ophelia...etc. all things are psychological approach. 

                             

Thank you...