Comparing Frances Zefferilli’s Hamlet and Shakespeare’s Hamlet

To play one of Shakespeare’s most complex roles successfully on stage or on screen has been the aspiration of many actors. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet has been the focus on various accounts throughout the 20th Century, each actor attempting to bring something unique and unmarked to the focal character. Franco Zeffirelli and Kenneth Branagh, both film directors, introduce varying levels of success on the screen through downright differences in ways of translation and original ideas. Zeffirelli’s much shorter interpretation of the film is able to convey the importance of Hamlet as a masterwork by using modern approaches to film but still capturing the traditional work behind Shakespeare’s well-known play.

There was an unbreakable bond between mother and son that was completely destroyed when a mother married her husband’s brother. Gertrude and Hamlet are not as close as it seems. Hamlet’s feelings had changed towards his mother after she betrayed his father. Hamlet shows his true colors for his mother when he says,

Polonius is a nosy, busybody, who likes to insert himself into other people problems and business. Polonius was killed when Hamlet stabbed him through the arras because he thought it was Claudius, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead.” (3.4.28) this shows poetic justice because Polonius was killed due to the fact that he was being nosy. Polonius’s death furthered the meaning of the play because it was the turning point for Hamlet, it was when he stopped thinking and started doing in other words he started acting. This is also the point from which all other deaths spiraled from. Polonius deserved his fate because he was setting Hamlet up in order to gain praise from the king.

Immediately following Hamlet’s exit, Claudius asks Gertrude what happened. Gertrude tells the king that Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, and Claudius realizes that he could have been killed too. Claudius asks where Hamlet has gone, and Gertrude replies that he has gone to take the body away. The king then orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to seek out Hamlet and find out where he has taken Polonius.

Throughout the play, King Claudius uses Polonius for his benefit. Polonius is loyal to the King, which directly and indirectly, lead his family to the grave. “Both to my god and my gracious king.” (II, ii, 48) In the section where Polonius speaks he refers to King Claudius as his “gracious King” which shows Polonius’s loyalty towards the king. However, in reality, the king does not really think of anyone else except himself and his unrighteous desires. Once Claudius had gained Polonius’s loyalty, he was in a position to use Polonius as an object, rather than a loyal friend. When Polonius and the queen were conversing, they were startled by the approach of someone. Polonius, possibly because of loyalty or maybe a hint of guilt, he concealed himself from the behind the drapes from the young Hamlet. This obviously wasn’t the right move because shortly after he lies dead. “How now, a rat? Dead as a Duncan, Dead!”(III, IV, 26) Polonius choice to conceal himself from the King was the source of his demise. The reader can easily comprehend, that one bad decision after another, play out like a domino

Hamlet feels an internal grief that Gertrude could never see and his actions along with his clothes only show a part of it. Gertrude can’t understand Hamlet’s extreme actions because a sane mind can’t likely understand the actions of the insane mind. Hamlet was so deeply troubled and depressed by his father’s death that he was able to slip into a state of insanity that revolved around the idea of his father. In this state Hamlet’s mind fixated about his father’s death and was unable to think of much else other than his own possible death. Hamlet wishes that he can commit suicide. In one of his soliloquies Hamlet

The Ghost's instructions to Hamlet to stay quiet and concentrated on the current task in Act III Scene IV appears at first to be positive. While Hamlet's father is a wrathful man, it seems as if he wouldn't like to hurt Gertrude, based on his directions to Hamlet to keep her from going crazy even though she married his murderer. Hamlet’s reaction and demeanor for the rest of the play shows that he failed to follow his father’s instructions by going mad himself resulting in Gertrude going crazy as well. He acts unreasonably in light of the fact that he neglects to comprehend Gertrude's point of view and rather denounces her of a wrongdoing without allowing her to react.

Shakespeare is a name recognized by all to be that of one of the greatest playwrights of all time. There is no surprise that many of Shakespeare’s works are later turned into a movie. Director Franco Zeffirelli and Kenneth Branagh both have a distinct interpretation of Hamlet Act V. Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy was much darker than Brangan’s version. The settings, costumes and the props were all medieval. It was set in a dark castle with stony gray bricks, the characters wore dirty clothes, and the props were mostly wooden or made out of metal. The physical elements in Zeffirelli show that it took place in 15 century during the dark ages. In Franco Zeffirelli’s version the characters didn’t use a lot of emotions

Polonius is hiding behind a curtain trying to stay quiet. However, during Hamlet and the Queen’s conversation Polonius speaks up and making his presence known. “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool; farewell… I took thee for thy better… take thy fortune; Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger.” (3.4.31-33). Hamlet then stabs Polonius through the curtain killing him.

After watching a performance, or finishing a novel, audience members and readers alike are often left with unanswered questions in regards to characters or events that have taken place. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Shakespeare leaves that audience to wonder about the complex character of Polonius. Polonius is a man of many faces who assumes varying roles in his interactions with other characters. Polonius’ poor treatment of his children, fascination with deception and general disregard of others leave many reasons to wonder about his true thoughts. Although he provides comic relief and evokes sympathy from the audience, a sinister side of Polonius is also revealed. It is primarily due to his complete lack of respect for others that Polonius indeed deserves his fate.

Hamlet is jealous of Claudius. He says, “O, throw away the worser part of it, And the purer with the other half! Good night. But go not to my uncle’s bed...I'll blessing beg of you” (Ham 3.4 178-192). Hamlet is in his mother’s bedroom and telling her not to sleep with Claudius. He is jealous of her affection to Claudius. In Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation of Hamlet, Mel Gibson’s portrayal of the prince shows that he has sexual urges towards her. The film evidently shows affection between Gertrude and Hamlet. Many actions, like the kiss, shows that Hamlet is attracted towards Gertrude and Gertrude is attracted towards Hamlet. There’s only nine years of age difference between Glenn close and Mel Gibson which makes seems more like lover and not mother and son. Gibson throws close on a bed. After she kisses him on his mouth, he calms down and puts his head on her lap. Hamlet’s reaction when the ghost glides in also tells us that Hamlet was aware of what he was doing.

45. Though Hamlet asserting that Polonius was “a wretched, rash, intruding fool” is fairly uncalled for after the man’s death, the statement is a true one. Ever since his first appearance within the play, Polonius has been revealed to both be a man of little intellect as well as one with a habit of spying (he has spied on Hamlet on multiple occasions as well as sending off an assistant to do the same with his own son). Despite Polonius’s nature, Hamlet is not justified in murdering the man. Hamlet even admits that he had committed such a heinous act in a fit of rage and that he will have to deal with the consequences. The murder has no valid reason, it is merely understandable.

Hamlets starts out as a smart and careful prince who is calm and hopes to prove his suspicions concerning his father’s murder. He is extremely careful that his melancholy may not blind his judgement, leading him to act prematurely and probably be wrong about his rushed decision. Hamlet believes in justice and although annoyed at the fact that he finds Claudius has already declared himself king and taken over the throne, along with Gertrude, he is careful not to immediately act out in anger and end up annoying the self-proclaimed king and end up being punished or worse. In the first scene, we see Hamlet as just a sad lad who is mourning the death of his father, but inside, he is already plotting on how to give the death king justice. At first, Hamlet is adept at keeping his calm and waiting for the moment to exploit so as to get back at Claudius for his part in killing the king. Having a university student at the time of his father’s death, Hamlet at first proves to be contemplative and philosophical, being careful in the decisions that he takes. He prefers to have a calculated plan that ensures that he gets justice for the slain king without bringing harm to anybody, especially Gertrude.

Although it really does not concern Polonius, he does not fail to become involved in a matter to do with the royal family. He offers his help in discovering the source of Hamlet’s “madness” by taking advantage of his daughter, Ophelia’s, relationship with him. Before testing his theory that Hamlet’s actions were caused by his daughter avoiding him, he speaks to Hamlet himself. Polonius is left confused by Hamlet’s response to some of his questioning, stating; “Though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t”. He is convinced that Hamlet’s lunacy is genuine but there continues to be mechanism in the way he speaks. The debate of whether or not his madness is legitimate frequently occurs in many scenes and makes the play more intriguing while the other characters search for the

Hamlet enters his mother’s room in the next scene and he begins to fight with her when he suddenly hears a voice behind the arras. Without looking he thrusts his sword through it thinking it is the king. Gertrude’s reaction causes Hamlet to pause and ask, “Is it the King?';(3.4. 32). His doubt is quickly assured when he looks behind the arras to reveal Polonius’ body. This scene is very important because it shows that Hamlet is certainly not afraid to kill Claudius and he is not a coward. He thinks he has the perfect opportunity to kill the King in front of his mother so he does so without hesitation. This action displays a great deal of courage by Hamlet. Even after he discovers it is Polonius he does not show a great deal of remorse and he even calls him a fool. This event causes more problems in delaying Hamlet because he now has to deal with the fact that Laertes now wants him dead. Also, after Hamlet commits the murder he goes away for a few weeks and is unable to be in contact with the King which delays his revenge even further.