Thinking activity on " HAMLET".

Recently in the "Department of English" MKBU,
Dr.Dilip Barad Sir gave the task in http://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2013/08/ worksheet-hamlet-movie-screening.html

Here is answers of my task.

◆ Introduction :

"The tragedy of Hamlet" or  "Prince of Denmark" is the most famous & the best-known play which is written by William Shakespeare.

In this play I can see that the dangerous intrigue made by Hamlet's family. Patriarchy is the main & central theme of this whole play who is the son of King father Hamlet & because of his father's unexpected murder, Hamlet thinks to take a revenge. This whole play is full of intrigue. I can see that Hamlet's error of judgement towards the end of the play. He constantly thinks that " To be or not to be" & he suffering from the external difficulties in the play.

1] How faithful is the movie to the original play?

"Hamlet" - movie which is directed by Kenneth Branagh on 1996. Director himself played the role of Prince Hamlet. It's indeed a very marvelous movie & I absolutely says that the movie which is directed by Kenneth Branagh is textually very worthwhile because the original text's most of dialogues covered-up in this movie.

But I think the movie Hamlet is not 100% faithful because Branagh saws the Victorian era & style costume, luxurious dress and rich ceremonies at the Court of Elsinore which is particularly luxurious rather than medieval time. So, I can see that by doing this things Branagh little bit went away from the original text.

2] After watching the movie have your perception about play, characters or situations changed?

Yes, After watching the movie my  perception about this play,characters & situations changed because after watching this movie I understand the whole characters & the situations very well. The understanding of this play is increased. 

Before watching the movie, I thought that Hamlet is the most powerful character in the whole play but it's didn't like that. In the other hand, I didn't think the luxurious dress & ceremonies there because original play is in the medieval period.

So after watching the movie my whole doubts has been removed.

3] Do you feel 'aesthetic delight' while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reason?

Yes of course, I feel aesthetic delight while watching the movie.

1. I attracted towards the marvelous Royal palace & ceremonies. And also feel aesthetic delight while saw the ice-desert.

4] Do you feel "catharsis" while or after watching movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reason?

Yes, definitely I've noticed catharsis several times while watching the movie.

1. Firstly, I've noticed that Hamlet was a very patriarchal character in the movie. And he came to know about his father King Hamlet's murder, he decided to take a revenge. So I feel catharsis in Act 4 , Scene 4 while Hamlet firmly decided to take a revenge.

2. Secondly, when Hamlet behaves rudely with Ophelia & when she gone mad after the death of her father.

3. I feel catharsis for Gertrude while Polonius's death & her own son abuse her & behaves badly with her.

5] Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the play?

Yes, I frankly says that I didn't read the original play of 'Hamlet' , so it's a very easiest way to understand Hamlet play through the movie screening because in this movie Kenneth Branagh tried to covered-up original text's whole dialogues as much as possible. So, I can easily understand the whole play.
Perhaps it's possible that we can't imagine that kind of whole situations as well while reading the text. So in understanding of every emotions movie is very helpful rather than reading.

6] Was there any particular scene or moment in the movie that you will cherish lifetime?

Yes, there is last scene Act-5, scene-2 ....of Horatio & Hamlet, on one hand Horatio says that - "if your mind deny obey it" & the other hand Hamlet says, " readiness is all " - this is the line which touch my heart & I never forget it.

7] If you are director, what changes would you like to make in the remaking of movie on Shakespeare's " Hamlet" ?

If I'm a director then I definitely change the whole scenario of this play through change the mindset of Hamlet, because in this movie Hamlet constantly lives in dilemma for take a revenge on Claudius.

Then secondly I change again the mindset of Hamlet towards his mother Gertrude because she was a frail woman on Hamlet's mind.

So, through this Hamlet's mindset, we see the tragedy in play. So, these several changes I would like to make in the remaking of movie on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

8] In the begging of the movie camera rolls over the statue of King Hamlet outside the Elsinore Castle. The movie ends with the similar sequence wherein the statue of the king Hamlet is hammered down to the dust. What sort of symbolism do you read in this?

( Clue: In Book IX of 'Paradise lost', satan reflects on his revenge motive: "But what will not ambition & revenge; Descend to ? who aspires must down as low; As high he sored,obnoxious,first or last, To basest things . Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils." It is not king Hamlet's ambition to avenge his death responsible for the downfall of his kingdom which is symbolically pictured in last scene ?)

This creativity of director may be tries to say that revenge is never end with the happiness. In starting camera on statue of King Hamlet may be shows the royalty of empire, but in the end when the head of that statue of King Hamlet is in dust which shows the destroy of empire. It is very simple that King Hamlet is one who seed the revenge in Prince Hamlet's brain &  because revenge is never have happy endings, the whole royal family died.

9] While studying the play through movie,which approach do you find more applicable to the play? Why? Give reasons with illustrations?

While studying the play through movie, I find "feminist"approach more applicable because before watching the play, I never though that Hamlet is so cruel with his mother when after watching the play with in the play Gertrude call Hamlet is her bed- chamber. I can't imagine anyone to behave like this with his or her mother. That's the reason I found " feminist" approach more applicable.

We can see in the above video that how badly behaves Hamlet with his mother. This is the scene of death of Polonius.

10] Which of the above mentioned approaches [in pre-viewing task] appeals you more than other? Why? Give reasons.

In pre-viewing task I feel philosophical & psychological approach more applicable than any other because of the thinking habit of Hamlet & his soliloquies,his confussion firstly towards ghost or it is just a trap the confussion of that ghost speaking truth or not because of all this things I feel philosophical & psychological approach more applicable.