DragonBall Z

DragonBall Z
This is the Dragon... Dragonball Z. An anime show highlighting some of the best that human imagination has to offer.

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Monday, March 10, 2008

Hamet's Soliloquy Act III Scene I

Act 3:1

In Kenneth Branagh’s rendition of Hamlet’s famous soliloquy from Act 3:1, the actor puts on a show that evokes emotion and feeling much like the player did for Hamlet earlier in the play. This third video is different from all of the other video because it most accurately portrays the actual play and the setting that the tone Shakespeare creates. Hamlet is in the palace in Denmark standing alone in front of a mirror which is fitting for this speech because a mirror allows him to speak alone and still get the impression that one is being listened to. Some of the most recognized words in the history of the English language are found at the beginning of this soliloquy in the play when Hamlet asks himself the question – “To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (III i 55). The King and Polonius spy as Hamlet ponders the pros and cons of continuing on in a life filled with trials and tribulations.

In the beginning of the video there is a long shot with the actor’s head and feet. He is the only one in the mirror able to seen. Slowly, as the lines go on, actor moves closer and closer as the camera follows. Eventually, the long shot is changed into an extreme close-up shot where only Hamlet can be seen. Because it is an extreme close-up the actor is isolated and alone. There is no one else in the shot, no one else to feel the pain and torment that the actor does. Close-ups are to alienate and show confusion or loneliness. Hamlet is confused and maybe fighting within himself as to whether or not he wants to continue this battle to find the answers.

His first line “To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (III i 55) has Hamlet questioning his existence; “whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer/ the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,” (III i 56). The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune are his father’s death and the marriage between his mother Gertrude and his Uncle Claudius. Or should he endure the pain and “take arms against a sea of troubles,” (III i 58) surviving long enough to fulfill the prmise made to his father’s ghost? Death is sleep and an eternal says Hamlet. Those that sleep do not have to deal with people higher than them disrespecting them and treating them like nothing, “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,” (III i 69). “And by a sleep to say we end/ the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks/ that flesh is heir to; ‘tis a consummation,” (III I 60-62) refers to Hamlet ending his life and coincidentally, he just happens to be carrying around a dagger with him. It was commonplace to carry around a weapon in those times merely for self-defense.

In the video while, the dagger is out, Hamlet says his lines and holds the dagger to the mirror. The shot is created in a way that it looks like Hamlet inches closer and closer to his throat with the knife but each time pulls it away creating the idea that he is toying with himself, or testing himself; trying to create the illusion that he can take his life right now if he wants to. When the dagger is unsheathed, there is a jump cut to King Claudius and the expression on his face is one of surprise. He could be surprised that Hamlet is about to kill himself or that Hamlet is carrying around a dagger on himself. King Claudius reaction could be surprise in that he is shocked to learn that Hamlet has gone insane and Hamlet’s life may be threatened by it.

The actual colors chosen for the setting are relevant to the tone as well because white and black as a mix represent the mind and the floor in the mirror has a box pattern of white and black boxes. There set surrounding Hamlet shrouds him and closes him off from the rest of the world. He is alone in the hall (or so he thinks that he is) and let’s his thoughts flow.

The score in the background is found or fitting to the tone of the soliloquy because it is not profound or in the middle of the speech. The score adds to the mood and its eeriness. There are chants or wails from a violin at appropriate times throughout the soliloquy. The most fitting of the soliloquy was at the pulling of the dagger.

Near the middle of his soliloquy, Hamlet rationalizes that death is not the answer and that the dreams found in the afterlife may be ones that are no different from the ones found in this world. Death is unknown to Hamlet and to all man, “But, there the dread of something after death,/ the undiscovered country, from whose bourn,/ no traveler returns, puzzles the will,” (III i 77-79). In the end of his speech he concludes that this question does not have an answer and he is interrupted by the coming of Ophelia. She is greeted by Hamlet under his breath and makes her to be an angel with his line, “Be all my sins remembered,” (III i 88).

Kenneth Branagh’s rendition of Hamlet is the best out of all of the Hamlet videos because the Hamlet chosen is believable and overall setting fits the description and the tone from the play. The cinematography, lighting, and colors chosen for the set design add the mood and help to elaborate one of the most studied and recognized soliloquies of all time.

1 comment:

Michael R. 6 said...

I posted this blog entry becuase I was very satisfied with the grade that I had recieved.