In the novel, Falling For Hamlet, Michelle Ray rewrites Hamlet in a more modern way and in Ophelia's perspective. Ray shows an interesting twist on Shakespeare's play that may leave you in awe due to it's detail and emotions. Ophelia, Hamlet and Horatio all live in the royal castle and go to school (Horatio and Hamlet are in college while Ophelia is still in high school) and Hamlet and Ophelia have an interesting romance story. Since Hamlet is originally written without much heard from Ophelia, it is refreshing to see how Ray interpreted her views. This book is great for anyone who really is interested in finding out more about the play-even if it is unofficial. I stumbled upon it one night and I read it in two days; I couldn't put it down. It is filled with modern yet older bits and is good for a better understanding of the play. 

Ophelia's Eulogy

   We are all here today to honor a girl whom we all loved and cherished, dear Ophelia. Although some may feel as though she may not deserve a Christian burial, we do. We can not imagine Ophelia purposely drowning herself in order to end her life but then again, who actually knows the truth? Perhaps it was Gertrude who let her drown, she was there and witnessed it after all. None of us know what was going through Ophelia's mind when she died and we never will but we would like to remember her as the type of person who would not willingly give up her life.

   Ophelia was the type of person who gave everyone second chances and never stopped loving. Yes, towards the end of her life she did go a little batty but don't we all? I'm only 16 and I'm already losing my marbles! Ophelia had so many great memories with the people who love and adore her, and even with the people that didn't. I have personally witnessed Hamlet and Ophelia's love and it was breath taking- when they weren't fighting of course. She used to always come to me and tell me about their relationship and ask for advice, I felt so important because she was coming to ME; no one else. Ophelia had such a big heart and I'm so sad to see that heart no longer beat.

   I know that Ophelia was not well known by people (besides being with Hamlet) but that never kept her down, it didn't even bother her. I know that she went mad towards the end of her life but I think that is from her believing that everything she loved was leaving her; Hamlet, her father, her brother was not with her. I feel sorry for her not only because she was my best friend, but because no one knew the true Ophelia. She was a beautiful, young girl who had the heart of a Saint and could never hurt a fly. Some portray her as the type of person who broke Hamlet's heart and stomped all over it but that's not all to the story and since it is not my story to tell; I won't.
 
   It kills me to think that I was not with her when she passed-or anyone was for that matter. She probably felt so alone. But it makes me wonder? Did anyone see her? Could have anyone helped her? That's what the world is wondering. This is when my mind wanders to Gertrude, did she see it all happen? I wouldn't blame her if she did, she would have been too puny to take the branch off of her anyway. But then again, I do blame her. If you can tell the perfect story of how Ophelia died then you would have been able to call for help. Maybe she did, maybe no one heard her. No one knows. It just kills me to have to say goodbye to the girl who was basically my sister and who I loved with my everything. Sadly, there always comes a time where we have to say goodbye to the ones we love even though we never want to. The good news is that she is now in a better place with her father where she can rest in peace.

   I loved Ophelia more than anything or anyone else and I can't imagine a life without her. I know that she is now forever looking over me and guiding me and I will carry that with me for the rest of my life. She told me secrets that I will never tell a soul and I will bring those to my grave. I know this is a goodbye but it's okay because I know that some day, whenever that will be, we will meet again one day and discuss everything that has happened. So as we say goodbye to our dear friend, Ophelia, I will us all to remember her at her best rather than at her worse. Goodbye Ophelia, please watch over us and guide us through the rough and the bad times and be our guardian angel. Rest easy beautiful.

Hamlet's Dilemma

Hamlet seems to be in a bit of a pickle. He has decided that the only way he is able to avenge his father's death is by killing his uncle, Claudius. Poor old Hamlet does not think things through enough in my opinion. I say this because if Hamlet had thought about the long term effects that would occur due to his action, then I believe that he would change his mind. This is because two wrongs do not make a right and by killing Claudius off he is not making anything better; if anything he is making it worse.
Although Hamlet has a reason that he finds valid when it comes to killing his uncle, it is still not legal nor praised upon by the royal family-or anyone for that matter. By Hamlet killing Claudius, it would make Hamlet the real criminal which would leave Claudius as the victim which is what Hamlet does not want. Hamlet is only thinking about the short term effects and how it would make his father's death be alright. Wrong. If Hamlet really does go through with the murder then it makes him no better than Claudius is/was. 
In Hamlet's eyes, it is makes perfect sense for him to kill his uncle because it is the only thing to do to make his father's death come to an end. I honestly and truly do not think Hamlet it thinking rationally and I think that many others can help me justify the reasons. If I were in Hamlet's shoes, I would make Claudius live with the guilt for two reasons: 1. the guilt will eat him alive and kill him by itself 2. MURDER IS ILLEGAL AND MORE BAD PUBLICITY FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY AND ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED. This is why I should be part of the royal family, I can handle these situations. But hey, I guess I'm the only one who realizes that murder is illegal and two wrongs do not make a right.

I know this is probably really lame but I'm actually laughing really hard at this.

To Be Or Not To Be

After reviewing all of the "To Be or Not To Be" scenes, I have witnessed good tries and I have witnessed bad. Although each director portrayed the scene as their own I feel as though they did not fully live up to the 'expectations', if you will, of the speech itself. Yes, all of the pieces had their own take on it, but that does not mean they succeeded in what they have as a result. 

In Oliver's version of the soliloquy was very slowly and dramatically told. The only two parts that I actually liked about it was the fact that he was thinking for part of it and that he had the dagger with him and was contemplating about it. Personally, I do not like how it was in black or white nor do I like that he reminded me of a mermaid throughout the majority of it (I was a little freaked out). An interesting thing that the actor did was when he was talking about being a coward, he started out towards the edge of where he was standing but moved back to a safer spot. In this clip I think that the most effective aspect of it was when he was talking about being a coward because it portrays what he meant by backing out last minute due to overthinking. 

In Zeffrelli's version, the scenery was, again, very dark (I couldn't really see the props or background that much but that could be just from my seat) and eerie; if I didn't know better I would think it was a horror movie. The scene took place in a tomb which I really liked because it was showing how Hamlet was observing the deceased people and was "talking" to them. He was also having almost an internal debate at the start and then gradually it became external as he became more engrossed in the speech. This actor (I think Mel Gibson?) had a lot of emotion which I really liked because you were able to understand where he was coming from which I find very important. At a certain point in the scene, Hamlet was on his knees while he was talking-almost as if he was praying. The most effective part of this piece was that he was talking to the dead people because it shows that he was thinking more and more about it. 

I didn't like Branaugh's version that much for the fact that Hamlet was talking very softly and I couldn't understand what he was saying. I enjoyed how he was staring into the mirror while talking but I wish it was different scenery; something more intense and private because if someone had walked in (I know it's not in the ply but still!) then his entire speech would have been ruined. I did not like how the music just randomly started playing because it's almost as if it came out of no where. I like how he has the knife with him and how he was showing it to himself and observing it in the mirror but I did not like the ending. Yes, it almost had me at the edge of my seat but it annoyed me to a certain point, I'm not exactly sure why though-just something about it. Honestly, nothing really stood out to me as "effective" in this piece, sorry. 

In the last version by Almereyda, it took place in a blockbuster and Hamlet would just walk up and down the aisles labeled "action" while saying the soliloquy in his head. I liked how while he was "thinking" the speech, the television had clips of things blowing up because it almost signified what he was thinking in his head. From what I witnessed, the actor did not portray a lot of emotion which I do not like because then I am not able to understand the character and his feelings and it makes it boring. With this scene, I do not have a lot to say due to the fact that not a lot happened, he was just walking and saying the speech. Needless to say, I was not a fan of this scene but I liked how it was based in blockbuster, I thought it was clever.

Ghost Scene

In the first version of Hamlet, Zeffireli did an exceptional job on basing it on the time period but I do not believe that the Ghost was enough for me; I feel as though the Ghost had no qualities that I imagine of when I think of the stereotypical ghost. For instance, he didn't see nor sound like a Ghost (like Mrs. Stawicki did while reading in class) and personally, I also don't believe that the Ghost should have had so much emotion. Gibson, however, was very good in portraying his role; he was my favorite Hamlet of all. Unlike the Ghost, I believe that Hamlet should have a lot of emotion due to the circumstances and Gibson did an amazing job of switching emotions. The setting of the movie was not my ideal spot but the acting fixed that for me. The background music was eerie and the room was very dark; almost too dark that it took away from the scene. In the second version, Branagh did a wonderful job portraying the film as I pictured in my head but he did not do as good as a job of playing Hamlet. The way that Branagh inserted the flashbacks of the Ghost's past was really intriguing to me and I think that is why I enjoyed the clip so much more than the others. The Ghost was exactly how I pictured it but Hamlet was not; I think Branagh was not a good choice for Hamlet due to his poor acting skills and lack of emotion  (from what I've seen). The background music was like a suspenseful tone that really had me on the edge of my seat and I was able to see a lot clearer throughout the clip than in version one. The setting was in the forest/woods with wind in the background along with the music. In my opinion, I hated version three; it bored me and it did not portray the play in any way besides the dialogue. I understand that it was a "modern" take on it but I still do not understand how this was even put into a movie. It may have been that Almereyda did not do a good job directing it or maybe it was Hawke who did not do a good job playing it but I couldn't even follow along. I did not like how no one was there to stop Hamlet and how there was barely any emotion. I was also unable to make out what the characters were saying due to their speed of talking or their volume-I did not like that. The setting was in either an apartment or a house to which Hamlet was just leisurely sitting around and the background music sounded sad but yet there were no emotions throughout the clip. If I were approaching this myself, I would base it mainly on the play. The setting would be in the woods, like version 2, because there does not have to be a specific time period for that to happen and the background music would be eerie as well. I would let Gibson be Hamlet, but I would ask him not to exaggerate it so much, and I would have the Ghost from version two. I would like to have my movie be mainly like version two, but have different emotions and touch some things up. I would like to leave my audience with the fright of seeing a ghost and have them in suspense about what Hamlet is going to do to his uncle to avenge his father's death. I would like to make as though while Hamlet was running into the woods to meet and talk with the Ghost, he fell and hit his head and fell unconscious. This would cause him to dream the entire interaction and make him think that he actually met his father's ghost. Horatio and Marcellus would then come to find him unconscious and awake him to find out what he had dreamed. I would then fade out of the scene with the Ghost's voice faintly saying, "Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye. Remember me".