Why Die...WHEN I CAN ERADICATE THE FIEND WHO HAS TAKEN MY FATHER'S LIFE! -Hamlet's "To Be or Not To Be"

"To Be or Not To Be" Scene

"To be or not to be." That is the question. Wait! No! The real question is what in blazes does that even mean? Before I began reading Hamlet, I always wondered where that famous line originated from. Now that I know, I'll be able to break those famous words down just like how Hamlet will "break down" the perpetrator who has killed his father!

Close enough!

Oliver's Hamlet

HAVE I GONE COLOR BLIND! BLACK AND WHITE EVERYWHERE! As I was watching this version, Oliver crashed through my window, into my room, and threw me into 1948 which was when monkey astronauts was just a thing. The first thing I noticed was the eerie, thick fog surrounding the area as Hamlet was speaking. As his words echoed through the area, all you can hear are the waves crashing against the cliff side. Hamlet seemed like a mermaid as he laid upon the rock near the cliff's edge. The director was conveying anxiety and suspense to me at least because it seemed as though Hamlet was about to fall off the cliff. If it wasn't Hamlet who fell off, it was his knife. Hamlet chose to send his knife to hell because technically, the knife was going to be the end of him. Good thing Hamlet made the right choice. It's best to solve your problems than to just forget about them with a thrust of a knife. While looking down towards the crashing waves, Hamlet is basically looking down towards his problems and conflicts that seem to be making him more depressed than he already is. As long as Hamlet accomplishes his goals, he will be able to rest easy without the thought of a life or death choice.

Monkey astronaut.......IN BLACK AND WHITE! AHA!

Zeffirelli's Hamlet

Even without music playing in the background, I can get a better understanding of what Hamlet is trying to get at. While Hamlet is contemplating life or death, he is surrounded by graves with people who have meet their fate. Hopefully, Hamlet does not meet the same fate as those lost ones because he is determined to seek revenge upon his father's killer. The tone of Hamlet's voice allows me to get an outlook on his emotions which seem rather stressful and sensitive. To make matters better, the director portrays a dark, mysterious environment which helps describe Hamlet's decisions he has to make between life and death. As Hamlet moves towards the light surrounded by a dark environment, he realizes what dreams will come to him once he falls victim to Death. How will he be able to avenge his father if he is dead? Afterwards, Hamlet's tone of voice begins to rise as he talks about the life of a man. This increase in tone sends a broader message to the audience. Hamlet is determined to make a decision that will effect his life forever. Luckily, he makes the RIGHT decision and walks away thinking about his options as the character.

  

                                                            

Branagh's Hamlet

"Hey, buddy! Wanna move away from that mirror? It has done you no harm. Wanna glass of water? Maybe you should go hit the hay." Said Jonathan to Hamlet as if he were in this scene.

What an absolute bore. This WORLD FAMOUS speech being portrayed behind a mirror has lead to no physical representations of Hamlet's emotions besides him tapping his knife against the mirror. Or, Hamlet was tapping the knife against himself as if he wanted to kill himself. BRILLIANT! The mirror speaks the truth to Hamlet because he can look at himself while contemplating life or death. With the view of Hamlet from the mirror, I can tell if Hamlet has gone insane with the look in his eyes because his eyes determines his true emotions and the way he is feeling. The mysterious music in the background has been overlooked for me because all I could think about is what Hamlet is going to do with the knife in his possession. Is Hamlet going to end his life or continue striving towards his goals? That is the question. As Hamlet was tapping the glass with his knife, it seemed as though he was threatening another person, but that other person is himself. With that sinister look in his eyes, Hamlet is not afraid to end his life because of what he has been through. 

Almereyda's Hamlet

"Mommy, whose that weird guy talking to himself in the "Action" section of the store?" asked little Timmy.

"Stay in school Timmy. Stay in school." stated the mother.

Should I end my life, or should I watch the latest version of Harry Potter? Shall I fall victim to myself, or should I acquire some popcorn? Those are the questions. With a modernized outlook on Hamlet, I can give a broader perspective of what Hamlet is trying to portray. Hamlet may seem like the average Joe, however, in the inside, he is a mime trying to get out of his tight confinement. The televisions showing off destruction and havoc represents Hamlet's difficulties as a human being. Trying to overcome his limits and problems will allow him to open up his mind to newer possibilities. Possibilities on how to avenge his father, how to deal with Ophelia, and how to acquire all of his unanswered questions. As of this version, compared to the rest, Hamlet does not portray any emotion about contemplating life or death which is really bizarre. Maybe it's because he is in a public facility? Or maybe, the television scenes shown within the store expresses his true emotions for him! He may not show it in the outside, but in the inside, Hamlet is desperate to seek the truths about himself.

My Outlook

So many versions with so many ideas. The version that stood out to me the most has to be the Zeffirelli version because it has exploited many of Hamlet's emotions and feelings that allowed me to get a better idea of what Hamlet was thinking. Hamlet looking up into the light has given me hope that he will pull through even during the toughest of times. The graves has given Hamlet an example of what would become of him if he decided to choose death instead of life. This version has touched me more than the other versions combined.