Ophelia's Eulogy

Eulogy For Ophelia

We are gathered here today to honor the beloved Ophelia. It is such a shock to see someone die at such a young age. This young woman was kind and caring. She treated everyone nicely and respectfully. The untimely death of her father was the reason for her demise. She could not handle the grief and as a result she gave up on her life. I feel incredibly sorry for her. After the passing of her father the most important people in her life (Hamlet and Laertes) were not there to support her. She was left alone and for that reason she lost her mind. Although not everyone agrees Ophelia deserves a proper Christian burial.

Ophelia was the most respectful person. Her relationship with Hamlet was brought to an end because of the respect she had for her father. When he said to stop dating Hamlet she dropped her feelings and obeyed. She could not say no to her father, a sign of respect. Although many people do not believe this I think Hamlet is to blame for her demise. First, after her rejection he went insane. He began disrespecting her and all women. Then in this deranged state he ruthlessly murdered Polonius and if that wasn't enough he went and abandoned Ophelia when she needed him most. Another thing that goes understated is Gertrude's impact. She could have made a major impact in this outcome. She says that Ophelia's dress got filled up with water and as a result she drowned. Well if she saw this then why didn't she call for help? Did Ophelia tell her not to? I highly doubt this. Even though she was insane I truly believe that Ophelia called out for help in her final few moments but no one seemed to care because she was insane and this includes Gertrude. 

What we will miss most about Ophelia is her personality. She was just such a sweet innocent girl that anyone could get along with her. This is why I feel so sorry for her. Her actions did not cause the chain events that led to her fathers death and her demise. But no one will ever know that. She'll be known as the mad women who committed suicide when in truth that is false. I think we need to remember Ophelia for the person she was before her final few days. That young women was a beautiful, kind, and respectful human being.

Hamlet's Dilema Shiv

          Although Hamlet was tempted to kill Claudius and I would have been as well in that situation. I agree with Hamlet's decision to wait to kill Claudius at the right time. Hamlet understands that Claudius is a murderer and deserves to die but at the right moment. If he murders him at an inopportune moment the whole thing would be a waste. The Ghost of King Hamlet referred to the fact that he was forced to die with all his sins on his head and that he was not given a chance to make things right. If Hamlet would have killed Claudius while he was praying he would have been able to repent his sins unlike King Hamlet. This scene proves to you that Claudius is not all bad. Yes he killed his brother and married his wife but he does have some guilt for what he has done. Although the guilt is not strong enough to make him confess to Gertrude it is strong enough for him to confess to God and ask for forgiveness.
          In the play the distinction between heaven and hell is very important and that is one of the main reasons Hamlet's hold out on the murder. Although it is not stated Hamlet's father was probably sent to hell since he was unable to repay his sins. As a result, if Hamlet murdered Claudius while he was praying it would probably send him to heaven. Then did he actually get revenge? Not really because if Claudius is in heaven and King Hamlet is in hell Claudius would be the "winner" in that situation. Also Hamlet has to consider what will happen to himself after he kills Claudius. Right now everyone thinks of Hamlet as a madman but if he kills Claudius he will be held accountable even if he is mad.

To be or not to be Shiv

       The to be or not to be speech is one of the most famous speeches in literature and it has been portrayed in movies in several different ways. Each version of the soliloquy has a different setting. The Oliver version has Hamlet sitting at the edge of a cliff as waves crash against the rocks while he contemplates suicide. The director makes it seem as if Hamlet could be ready to jump in at any moment. Also at the beginning of the scene the director plays this ominous music as if something bad is going to take place. It really adds to the mood that the speech creates. In the scene it is very misty, it's hard to see as Hamlet is saying this speech. Also in the middle Hamlet pulls out a dagger and holds it in his hand. I think this inclusion was a good choice because it shows you how serious Hamlet is about this. In the Zeffirelli version Hamlet is shown with a little more emotion. His tone sounds a little angrier than that of the others. Although it starts out soft he seems to get upset as the speech goes on. Also in this version the setting is very important. He tells the speech near a casket to set the mood of death. In this version it is darker than all the other versions.
       In the Branagh version Hamlet in a hallway looking into a mirror while giving the speech. It is bright in this version unlike the others. He is looking into a mirror which Claudius is hiding behind. Throughout the entire speech Hamlet keeps the same tone, a calmer tone than the others. Also in this version similar to the Oliver version he pulls out a dagger and holds it up. Finally, in the Almereyda version Hamlet is in a blockbuster in the action section as he ponders through his thoughts. Throughout it he keeps a calm tone much like the Branagh version. The director uses the televisions as props. As Hamlet walks by a few television screens he sees an explosion and someone getting shot. Also in this version the director uses music to show the intensity of the scene. With every line there is a break in the music to emphasize each statement Hamlet is making.
       After watching all the versions I have to say my favorite is the Oliver version it's also the most effective. It does the best job of blending all the major aspects of the speech. I love the fact that Hamlet is sitting on the edge of a cliff and it would incredibly easy for him to jump over and end his life but he decides not to. Also the ominous music is an excellent touch that the other directors failed to include. I think there so many versions of the play because it is such a well known play and everyone wants to try and put there own personal twist into how it would have actually happened. Each director wants to make his version stand out over the others

Shiv's Hamlet

       

Overall I think the Zeffirelli version is the best one. It does the best job of pulling the key points set forth by the book. Although it did not contain the flashback to the murder I still like the sad emotion and dark eerie mood. It also did a good job with the setting. Hamlet chased the ghost to the roof where they had their confrontation and the ghost shows sad emotion towards his son. Also I did not like how  the Branagh version included the explosions and fires while Hamlet was chasing the ghost, it was unnecessary. The Branagh version did a good job with the music. It played a sort of climatic music when the ghost revealed he was murdered by the uncle and a sorrowful tone after the ghost was gone. However music was not a key factor in the other two versions. In the first two versions Hamlet is shown to be a bit crazed as his guards try to talk him out of following the ghost, but in the Almereyda version the ghost walks to Hamlet in his apartment and his guards are nowhere to be found. The Almereyda version also did a good job of showing the relationship between father and son but the ghost looked nothing like a ghost he looked like a living human being. If I were creating an adaptation of this scene I would definitely include a flashback to the murder scene. It provides the viewer with a clearer view of what really happened but it also makes the reader want to sympathize with King and Prince Hamlet and hate Claudius. Also in the flashback I would like to clear up the fact that Gertrude was not involved in the murder and she just married her brother-in law out of sorrow and regret.