Blog #24: Hamlet Act 4

My father is dead. Hamlet is gone. What on earth shall I do? I'm sure many people are worried about me, in fact, just this morning I came across an open journal in the castle library and discovered someone has been writing about me! Analyzing my every action. My songs may come from a loss of sanity but the true source of both of these is the lose of my adolescence and my emotions towards my father and Hamlet. My brother should have noticed but he himself is inhibited and blinded by his emotions as well. He once told me to beware of Hamlet's love, that I should view it as "a fashion, and a toy in blood;/ A violet in the primy youth of nature" (1.2.15) and now I tell him, through the same words "I would give you some violets, but they/ all withered when my father died" (4.2.76-77). The journal I read was correct in saying that these songs I sing "are related to the tragic fortunes to [my family]" (Seng.223). Such sadness has fallen over myself and Denmark.
My adolescence demolished should not alone bring me to insanity, though it is a great factor, this journal identified another component. I have realized, like Hamlet, that "Denmark has become [my] prison" (Seng.222). Hamlet has mentioned this when his father dies, all alone in the throne room he spoke of his grief to his father's death (1.2) and I now know it is like to mourn alone. A father gone is like a god taken away, for now "my lord" (2.1.74) will never return, he is "dead and gone" (4.2.35)
I hope that these words spoken will not forever haunt me as should living here in Elsinore still, but I hear the gravedigger's song, and I fear he may "be digging a grave for Ophelia" (Seng.227)

Blog #22: Act 3 Blog

Close Reading

Hamlet; To Be or Not To Be Soliloquy; Directed by Kenneth Braugh

Analysis
One of the key components of this enactment that Ii believe makes this soliloquy the best of the ones we watched was the use of the mirror. Hamlet is literally and figuratively reflecting on his life, considering whether or not he should let himself continue to suffer. As Hamlet continues to speak going deeper and deeper into his thoughts he walks closer to the mirror and the camera zooms in to a close up of Hamlet's face, this emphasizing again how these are Hamlet's thoughts that he is saying out loud. When Hamlet says "with a bare bodkin" (3.1.74) he pulls out his dagger, and though one may not know that a bodkin is a weapon, from this choice we can infer due to Hamlet words right before, "when he himself might quietus make"(3.1.75).  During this entire scene there is good lighting, which I believe to be a good choice because we can really see Hamlet, he is having a moment of clarity and the mis en scene choice reflects that.

Blog #21: Hamlet Act 2

"My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." This quote is so soooo relatable to the situation that Hamlet finds himself in, although revenge will probably come easier to him as he doesn't have to search for his father's murderer for twenty-five years of his life like Inigo. In this classic story Westley and Buttercup reunite after years of lost love and fight the mythical kingdom of Florin.

Oh how I am in awe of this story, such romance, adventure, and fantasy. I find myself in such a similar situation as to Princess Buttercup. Although the surface story may seem like a prince saving a princess I feel that is not all there is. Princess Buttercup is also saving him. When Westley returns as the man in black I believe that Buttercup probably feels the way I am at this very moment. I feel as if Hamlet is not being himself, he has been overtaken, consumed in something else and it leaves me "so affrightened!" (2.1.74). Westley does this to find information and I really hope that in time, Hamlet will reveal his thoughts to me Further, the king and prince are trying to tear Buttercup from Westley. Although I believe my father has my best wishes at heart, at times it does feel like he is ripping love away from me. "My lord" (2.1.83) does admit that his judgment is not always correct. He admits that with "better heed and judgement" (2.1.108) we could have just avoided this whole relationship drama fiasco. This plot of Inigo's revenge is quite concerning to me. I know that Hamlet is concerned with his fathers death and has come to really dislike his uncle. I fear he may seek revenge and this revenge will bring on paranoia that I may have already seen him "as if he had been loosed out of hell" (2.1.81).  There is so much happening with the death, the funeral, the marriage, the potentiality of war with Norway, my brother now gone, and Hamlets strange behavior that "I do not know;/ But truly, I do fear it" (2.1.82-83).

Tweets:

1) AGHGhghsghdfjhdsgflakuwe #sofrustrated #scaredformylife #soaffrightened

2) My dad is pretty much a god, always right #daddysgirl #luvu

3) Not all advice is good advice #lessonlearned "illdobetternexttime

4) My boyfriend is going crazy, and not a the good way #badboy? #relationship probs

5) The future is fast approaching, and it is scary #featoftheunknown #college apps

Blog #20: Hamlet Act 1

Oh, woe is me! My father does not wish that I see Hamlet, and my brother agrees. My family is more important to me, however, so I agreed, and "I did repel his letters and denied/ His access to me" (1.2.106-107). Though I do want to see Hamlet, alas, it cannot be so. I am still under the instruction and mentor-ship of m father, "my good lord" (1.2.105). I do not know where Hamlet would lead me but I do know that my own father would not lead me astray. He is, after all, the adviser to the King! Someone held in high regard and trusted beyond all others.
Although I will obey my father and brother, I cannot help but feel bad for Hamlet. A few days past he came to my chamber "with a look so piteous in purport/ As if he had been loosed out of hell" (1.2.80-81). My father prompted me if he were mad for my love, but I am unsure! Nevertheless, "I fear it"(1.2.83). What shall I do if Hamlet does not release me? With the recent loss of his father and the marrying of his horrible uncle to his just recently widowed mother, Hamlet must feel so sad, grieving on his own. If only I could be with him, to aid him. No, my kinship is more important to me than romance, I will obey. I must.
This knowledge, as my father says, "might move/ More grief to hide than hate to utter love" (1.2.116-117). I must be ignorant of Hamlet's love, there are for worse possibilities should I choose to accept it  instead.

Tweets:
1) I sent back his love letters, message received? #gatesclosed #rejected #stayaway

2) My lord, my savior, my father #daddysgirl

3) Poor Hamlet looks like he just walked out of hell #badhairday #sorryaboutyourfather

4) Scared that my ex will try to win me back #ughhhh #tooprettyformyowngood #stalker

5) Have to think of my father's reputation before galavanting off with random boys #richgirlprobs #richfatherprobs