HamLog+Jerry







Nunnery Scene Comparison

 * Each movies had different setting. First one was in a real castle, second one was more luxurious and modern and third one was real dark and gloomy.
 * The degree of Hamlet's insanity was different in all of them. I think the third one showed the most.
 * Second one was very romantic, in fact, too romantic.
 * Saying the whole line word by word seemed unnecessary for the second movie. Hamlet was talking too fast we couldn't understand most of it.
 * Background music aroused different atmospheres for each movie
 * The angle they were being filmed was different. I personally liked the first one the most. The second one with the whole mirror thing was too modern.
 * Hamlet's reaction to Ophelia
 * The way Ophelia said "He's at home" was actually same for all the movies
 * Level of Ophelia's love toward Hamlet
 * Claudius and Polonius seemed insignificant in third one.

It is obvious to the audience that Hamlet is alone onstage. What else, then, does he mean when he begins, “Now I am alone”? I think it has both literal and symbolic meanings. Hamlet is now really alone. His friends are not loyal to him, Ophelia is gone and his mother is loyal to Claudius as well. No family, no friends, no love puts him into true solitary.

Why is the Prince calling himself a “rogue” and “peasant slave”?

Hamlet is obviously degrading himself. Its sad enough that he (royal blood) is comparing himself with a player (low class entertainer). He is jealous that the player can give such a powerful and insightful speech while all he can do is hide behind his insanity.
 * Hamlet compares himself to the player. What does this comparison reveal about Hamlet’s self-perception?

Throughout the play, much violence is done to ears. How does Hamlet’s “cleave the general ear” relate to other “ear” references? Shakespeare uses the word ear twenty-seven times in this play. Do any of these resonate with you? Ear represents many things in Hamlet. Firstable, Claudius murdered Hamlet's father by poisoning his ear. And the apparition also states that it wasn't just his ear that was poisoned but the ear of Denmark and ear of his people as well (including Gertrude).

Hamlet uses a lot of theatrical terminology in his speech. Find some examples (“cue,” “satage,” “play”). Why might Hamlet be thinking in theatrical terms? Hamlet showed twists in his word choices to express something other than just literal meaning. In 3.2, it is all about the play and this could be just from Hamlet or it could be just Shakespeare's twist.

Find lines or phrases that explain why Hamlet thinks himself a coward. Do you think he is a coward, or is he acting cautiously by looking for external evidence to prove Claudius’s guilt? I don't think Hamlet is a coward. He had the chance to revenge, but he didn't want Claudius to be killed in peace. Such chance doesn't come very often and to abandon such opportunity is not an action that can be done by a coward. Also, his plan of proving Claudius's guilt to Horatio and Marcellus was brilliant.

3.2

After seeing the play and condemning himself of not being as expressive as the player, he gains an idea to confirm Claudius's guilt. He instructs the players to perform another play in front of Claudius (a play similar to the story of Claudius killing his own brother and taking his wife). Hamlet invites Claudius to watch the play and as well as Horatio and Marcellus. Claudius shows a significant reaction to the part where one of the player is poisoning the other's ear and killing him. Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus is now confirmed of Claudius's guilt.

1. Hamlet's plan was brilliant but I don't think he got hamlet-creative here as he did in previous acts. Why did he make the play exactly identical to Claudius's past? Wouldn't that basically show that his insanity was from finding out the truth?

2. Is Claudius lamenting his actions? It seemed that he was seeking forgiveness and lamenting the past, but his reaction to the play showed nothing more than a criminal afraid of his sin being exposed.