Characters in Hamlet portray a distinct parallel to the characters in the Garden of Eden. In Hamlet’s conversation with King Hamlet’s ghost, the ghost says, “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life / Now wears his crown” (I.v.39-40). The allusion of the serpent from the Garden of Eden is used as a reference to Hamlet’s uncle - who is now King Claudius. According to Kaye, the serpent is a representation of “the initiator of the first sins in the Garden” (Kaye). The serpent symbolizes evilness in the Genesis and also acts as the “ancient symbol of chaos” (Enns). Moreover, murder is an act of evil, Claudius is portrayed as the serpent as he is the murderer of the late King Hamlet. The ghost goes on saying, “y, that incestuous, that adulterate
The two stories i will be comparing for my final proceed as follows. Hamlet written by Shakespeare and 1984 by George Orwell. Hamlet is a story that is based on Monarchy and treason. These two themes are shown throughout the story. Thus brings those who rebel against the rulers. Hamlet’s father was murdered by Claudius (Hamlet’s uncle.) The reign of the throne should have went to the son of the king. Instead, it went to Claudius. Hamlet shows disgust as Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) married Claudius. Hamlet goes into an immediate depression because of all that he is witnessing and has no power to conquer it until, A ghost that resembles Hamlet’s father appears in the forefront. The ghost of Hamlet’s father explains this crisis thoroughly. He
The purpose of this report is to compare and contrast two movies made about Hamlet. I will present and discuss different aspects of the version directed by Kenneth Branagh to that of Franco Zefirelli. During this paper you will be presented with my opinions in reference to determining which version of Hamlet best reflects the original text by Shakespeare. I will end this paper with my belief and explanation of which movie is true to the original play.
Many directors choose to make many different decisions when producing their version of Hamlet. Every actor portrays the character Hamlet in several ways making each version almost a new story. Mel Gibson's 1990 version and the 2009 David Tennant films are very different in style, scene omissions and several other aspects.
In the biblical book of Genesis, Eve is tempted by a serpent to commit an ungodly act of eating a forbidden fruit. As a result of the snake's temptation, Eve eats the fruit, resulting in the presence of worldwide sin and the downfall of perfection. From this story of Adam and Eve, the figure of the snake has become generally associated with temptation, evil, and cynicism. William Shakespeare employs this symbolic imagery of snakes in Macbeth, to enhance the story of the rise and fall of Macbeth's power. For poetic and playwright purposes, Shakespeare uses serpentine imagery to reveal the malevolence of characters, and portray the threatening position of the throne, all while provoking a heightened emotion of fear and tragedy from the
When comparing two different Hamlet movies I found that one scene in particular was obviously more different than the others. I compared Columbia pictures 1996 version with Kenneth Branagh playing the role of Hamlet versus BBC’s 2009 Hamlet in which David Tennant played the honorable role of Hamlet. When comparing both movies I found a lot of similarities but there was one major difference when I compared the “To be or not to be” scene. The scenes vary in multiple ways whether it is lighting, focus, camera movements, and even the actors that play Hamlet.
Madness, the state of being mentally ill, exuberating extreme behavior, or a state of a frenzied mind. A definition which is a recurring major theme in Hamlet. By comparing and contrasting Hamlet to Ophelia, readers can see the different state of mind between the two characters.
“Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (I.V.31). In Shakespeare's play titled Hamlet, Lies, deception, and foul play are all encompassed into an iconic tale of revenge. The tragedy takes place in Denmark, following the death of Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet. Shortly after his death, King Hamlet’s brother Claudius marries, the Queen, who is prince Hamlet’s mother. The ghost of the dead king later shows himself to Hamlet in order to reveal that he was actually murdered by his own brother Claudius. After the ghost instructs Hamlet to avenge his death, he composes a plan involving false insanity, to discover whether Claudius really did kill his father and how to avenge his father's death. In comparing the original Hamlet play, to movie
Since the death of his father, King Hamlet, Hamlet his son is eluded between his thoughts and his emotions. The real struggle begins when a ghost, namely the ghost of King Hamlet, his father, accuses Hamlet’s uncle Claudius for his murder. When the ghost tells Hamlet about the reason for the murder Hamlet expresses his thoughts and feelings with passion, “The serpent that sting thy father’s life/Now wears his crown” (Shakespeare). The passion from his anger is also evident at the end of the soliloquy when he calls his uncle “damned villain” (Shakespeare). Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude is also accused by the ghost of King Hamlet for being sexually involved with Claudius and hamlet passionately with rage and anger calls his mother “O most precious women” (Shakespeare) at the end of his soliloquy. This situation put Hamlet in a sensitive and fierce battle between what’s truth and what’s right. His thoughts do not run in parallel with his emotions, Hamlet being caught up in this internal confusion keeps on delaying his actions. Furthermore Hamlet’s reason to kill Claudius comes from his passion, but his intelligence gives him reasons not to kill his uncle Claudius. He keeps
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet explores and condones the same variety of themes in Disney’s The Lion King. Through a number of events, both the antagonists want to take revenge upon their evil uncles. The reader and audience learn the importance of finding happiness when Simba meets Timon and Pumba, but Hamlet is neglected leaving him to spiral into dark thoughts. Another theme explored by both texts is power and how easy it is to lose what’s all around you as well as the even bigger struggle it is to gain it all back. Both texts have a variety of differences, yet they are very similar which makes them unique. Especially The Lion King, being aimed at a younger audience, it is evident to see how Disney has purposely left out harsh topics, such as suicide, to cater for the indented audience.
As innocent and young the Disney movie “The Lion King” may seem, it is, indeed, loosely based off of the renowned Shakespeare play “Hamlet”. It would seem strange to the typical audiences of each, but when looked at closer, it is seen that they are actually related underneath the youthful, animated surface of The Lion King.
In The Lion King, Minkoff and Allers present a clear difference between good and evil, whereas Shakespeare’s depiction of good and evil character in Hamlet is not so clear. The characters in The Lion King are categorised almost immediately in the orientation of the film, with the image of the characters giving the audience a clear picture of who the suspected betrayer is. However in the play Hamlet it’s a lot more difficult to label the characters as good or evil, the audience cannot be certain that Claudius is evil until the climax when he reacts to the play organised by Hamlet.
Claudius and Hamlet are both very selfish men. Claudius wants to be the king of
It was as his friends had said; it did appear to be his fathers ghost. The one thing that changed Hamlet then happened. The ghost looked at him and divulged his secret. He told a story that a serpent crept into his garden while he was asleep, and that "the serpent that did sting thy father's life, now wears his crown." (I, v, 39) Hamlet did not take this news lightly. He could not believe his uncle could and would kill his father. The ghost then forced Hamlet to swear to get revenge.
It is a belief held by many that classic works should never be tampered with, as any alterations made would be a defamation of those works importance. However, interpretations of famous works are never created with the intention of making those works seem less influential than they actually are. When revamping a classic work, most people are attempting to either honor that work or increase its relevance in modern society. While modern interpretations of William Shakespeare's Hamlet may seem crude and inaccurate, they are actually helping the famed play stay relevant in the modern era.
One other example of symbolism that is used in Hamlet is a serpent. The serpent, which Hamlet’s father’s ghost refers his uncle to, represents the evil and deceit that the uncle used to get the crown. A serpent, many times in literature, represents something that is secretive, evil, and tempting, just as Lucifer, in the form of a serpent was in the garden of Eden. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1). The ghost of Hamlet’s father says of his uncle,