Variety of Hamlets

Laurence Olivier's Hamlet shows Hamlet sitting on top of a cliff over a large body of water. The scene begins with music full of suspense and mystery. Hamlet's knife or dagger, the gloomy fog, and dramatic music symbolizes Hamlet's famous speech of "To be, or not to be". He is spotlighted on top of the cliff and gives the audience an anxious feeling to what is about to happen. The scene continues and proves Hamlet does nothing hurtful to himself, but it leaves the audience guessing to he'll do next.

Hamlet walks down in a dark burial tomb in Franco Zefferelli's Hamlet. It is assumed the bodies inside the tomb are his ancestors. Giving his speech in this environment shows that he is in between the line of life and death. Is he willing to die like the rest of his dead ancestors? Or is he going to fight? The bodies represented death, and gives a clue to what he really wants; which is to rest with his family. Hamlet in the scene was very emotional. He spoke in a calm tone in the beginning and ended in an angry manner. The actor makes the play more exciting than the others.

In Kenneth Baranagh's Hamlet, Hamlet is looking at himself in a mirror inside the castle he lives in. He whispers and speaks with himself, which tells the audience that he's planning something within himself. Hamlet lets himself know what's on his mind. Throughout his speech, the image of Claudius appears suddenly while a little rising suspense music plays and Hamlet brings out a dagger. The image represents the plot he's planning. Hamlet also brings the dagger close to his neck. The dagger shows that Hamlet is constantly thinking about death.

The Hamet from Michael Alymereyda's version of the play portrays the setting more modern from the bunch. The scene begins with Hamlet as a film student who videos himself with a gun instead of a dagger. He then is at a Blockbuster on the action line. His position in the store relates to his resistant of taking action about his problem. While he roams the video store, music and a video filled with violence and destruction plays on the background. Hamlet tells the speach with a thoughtful attitude and changes to a more comfortable and outgoing tone. This version was the best one for me.





It's obvious why there are so many different version of this one play from Shakespeare. Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" speech is considered as one of the most important writings ever. I enjoyed all of four versions of the scene. Michal Alymereyda's version has to be my favorite. It's the most modern version and the scene really shows the audience the symbols behind Hamlet's character. I thought it was great how he was on the action isle concidering that's what he lacked; taking action. Also the violent and destructive movie playing in the background and the intense music were mixed very well. All versions were great, but Alymereyda's was the best.