All about Hamlet

[clair_de_lalune]

I want to get down more of my thoughts about the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet before I forget everything…it’s already been a week! Actually, it seems even longer, since I’ve come home and gone back to work since then

Comments

[freggythepod]

I know that Ophelia is thought to have gone mad because of her father’s death, but did some of it have to do with her relationship with Hamlet, as well?

I think that's implied actually. A lot of her songs do talk about death, but she does have one-- "Tomorrow is St. Valentines Day / All in the morning betime..."-- that deals with sex and rejection. That can't have much to do with her father, but everything to do with her broken relationship with Hamlet.

The ghost was played by Patrick Stewart

Wow. That's a nice idea. And it makes Hamlet's assertion that Claudius is "no more like my father than I to Hercules" rather funny. :P

Although cynodd will disagree with me, I believe that this type of display is more than just normal grief.

I think that it is different from normal grief.
However, Hamlet's grief isn't dealt with normally. Claudius has just finished telling Hamlet something along the lines of "WHAT? You're still upset about your dad dying? Get over it, you wimp

[clair_de_lalune]

--I think that's implied actually. A lot of her songs do talk about death, but she does have one-- "Tomorrow is St. Valentines Day / All in the morning betime..."-- that deals with sex and rejection. That can't have much to do with her father, but everything to do with her broken relationship with Hamlet.--

Right, that's what always suggested it to me and made me wonder about her relationship with Hamlet: "Quoth she, 'Before you tumbled me, / You promised me to wed.' / He answers: / 'So would I 'a' done, by yonder sun, / And thou hadst not come to my bed.'" Also, Polonius is murdered the same night that Hamlet is sent to England, so she loses them both at the same time (though, it could be argued that she really loses Hamlet before then). I also wonder about the psychological strain of her (potential) lover having murdered her father...

--That's a nice idea. And it makes Hamlet's assertion that Claudius is "no more like my father than I to Hercules" rather funny. :P--Good point! Although, as the ghost, Stewart was bearded and

[freggythepod]

In this production, I don't believe he said it to her, but under his breath as she was walking toward him. Still, he's asking her to pray for him - does that necessarily imply love?

Not sure. But it does imply that he is aware that what he is about to say/do is wrong or hurtful, and that he cares what she thinks about him and his actions.

I do prefer it when he says it at a distance. It implies that it's a private thought, which is how I always took it in the text.

Your description of Hamlet's behavior before the play within a play is creepy! He's supposed to be rather sick and rude in that scene, but it's interesting how far they seem to have taken it. I wonder what the reasoning for that was...

[clair_de_lalune]

--But it does imply that he is aware that what he is about to say/do is wrong or hurtful, and that he cares what she thinks about him and his actions.--

I see what you mean. It could be taken that way. I took it as more general. Ophelia, being a sweet and innocent girl, would be the perfect advocate for Hamlet's sins to be forgiven. At this point, there's no way I could say whether it was possible to differentiate between these interpretations from Tennant's performance. It's been too long now and wasn't something to which I paid particular attention at the time.

--He's supposed to be rather sick and rude in that scene, but it's interesting how far they seem to have taken it. I wonder what the reasoning for that was...--

Within the play, madness. Outside the play, for laughs, I expect. People did laugh, but not me. My nature is more reserved than that. Although, I did smile in the darkness. ;-)

[wimble_mimble]

Oh, your descriptions really make me wish I could see this! In all honesty, I've never been much of a Shakespeare fan, but I think a lot of this comes from the fact that I've always read it, as opposed to watching it (except for the Leonardo Di Caprio version of Romeo and Juliett Freshmen year, and I really don't think that even counts.)

Coming from experience, there is a major difference between what you perceive when you simply read a script and when you actually see the actors playing the part.

I'm glad you enjoyed the show! At least the lack of new Doctor Who means that there is plenty of amazing Hamlet going around. XD

[clair_de_lalune]

--In all honesty, I've never been much of a Shakespeare fan, but I think a lot of this comes from the fact that I've always read it, as opposed to watching it (except for the Leonardo Di Caprio version of Romeo and Juliett Freshmen year, and I really don't think that even counts.)--

Why wouldn't that count? It's still Shakespeare...although, I've never managed to watch much of it before finding the style annoying.

--At least the lack of new Doctor Who means that there is plenty of amazing Hamlet going around. XD--

I don't know about "plenty" since a lot of people who would like to see it can't get tickets, but it's definitely an excellent reason for more Doctor Who being delayed! :-D

[freggythepod]

In all honesty, I've never been much of a Shakespeare fan

BLASPHEMY! :O

[wimble_mimble]

*hides from Iggy's wrath*

[alwaysholly]

Sounds like it was a nice time. I would have loved to have seen Hamlet. LOL..the Romeo and Juliet version with Leonardo Di Caprio is annoying. I actually own the dvd but can only watch it on occasion.

[clair_de_lalune]

Why do you own a DVD that annoys you? *lol*