Character Choices

On Friday Brady and I acted out our mini scene from Hamlet. We chose the scene right after Hamlet's main "To be or not to be" Soliloquy. In the scene Ophelia approaches Hamlet while he is going mad. I chose to play Ophelia sweet and concerned in the beginning of the scene. I was truly genuine with Hamlet and obedient to him. But as the scene grew on I began to question him, and through my suspicions I grew more eager, to know his true intentions. By the end of the scene my goal was to make him feel terrible, by showing him that he hurt me and truly deceived me. So in the beginning i tried to act sweet, concerned, and naive to the situation, and as the scene went on I grew in anger and had an eagerness to get him to be hurt.

Questions 7,14

7. I think that he tells his friends and companions that he is going to put on an "antic disposition" for attention, and to play a joke on them. Obviously throughout the course of the play, his "pretending" turns in to real anger, and he becomes mad. But I believe his first intentions are to be clearly over dramatic, and these are not his true feelings. I think that his behavior is definitely a strategy, which turns into reality. At first he is playing games, and later his true feelings are exposed.

14. The first quote is when we finally see that his funny moments, and his comic attitude is now turning into him being hurt and serious. He confronts Rosencrantz and expresses his true anger.  Hamlet is trying to get the truth out of Rosey and Guildy and he is playing mind games with them, but is starting to express his true intentions. In the second quote, we see that Hamlet is noticing his crazy behavior and he recognizes it. He is aware that he is putting on an act, and is finally realizing how his behavior is affecting others.

Laertes and Polonius on "Protecting" more like CONTROLING Ophy.

Both Laertes and Polonius are clearly trying to control Ophelia and her actions and love towards Hamlet. At the end of the day, it is only Ophelia who has the power to control her true feelings for Hamlet, and her father and brother obviously do not understand this. They try to do all they can to prevent a relationship from happening and because of that their true characters show, and we see how they want all the power and are only concerned with being superior, rather then looking out for Ophelia. They exclaim that their family would be tainted and ruined, when really they shouldn't be preoccupied with their reputation and should allow their daughter, or in Laerte's case, sister, have what she really wants. If anything, Laerte's argument seems more fair because he is less controlling then her father. In act 1 scene iii, we see their true intentions. At the end of the day, they want control and they both feel that they are superior to women. They have a very inferior outlook of women in these times, and they treat Ophelia as any other woman that they know, not as a daughter or sister that they love and care about.

Grumbling Gertrude and Ovulating Ophelia (Intro/Hamlet Essay)

In Shakespeare's Hamlet different characters have different speech patterns and language techniques. While analyzing the difference in speech patterns with Ophelia and Gertrude, Gertrude tends to use more mature and sophisticated words, while there is a sense of youthfulness with Ophelia. Because Gertrude is the Queen, she must act with politeness and class, therefore her word choice and stature reflects her high status in society. From reading Gertrude's text to the King and to Hamlet, her speech patterns are completely different. While Gertrude talks to Hamlet she talks down to him, while she is also being nurturing. And when she speaks to the King her language illustrates that they have a distant relationship. Ophelia also changes her speech patterns as she talks to different characters. When Ophelia speaks to her brother, she demonstrates confidence and a condescending and disagreeable tone. But when she speaks with Hamlet, the audience sees a different side of Ophelia, and through her light language, her love for him is expressed. Although the characters are completely different, their speech patterns are often similar. In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses different tones and techniques to express character's speech patterns, and through these patterns, we learn about the characters and their role in society.

To His Coy Mistress (Mini Essay)

It is clear in the poem To His Coy Mistress, that author Marvell is extremely passionate about the women he is talking to. But are his kind and persuasive words hiding the true meaning behind what he is actually intending to say? Throughout the poem, Marvell constantly talks about the essence of time, and how they must act fast, in order to really fulfill their love. But behind the multiple compliments he is giving to his woman, there is a sense of misogyny towards his "Mistress". If he were truly and deeply in love with this woman, wouldn't he be less concerned with the time aspect and more focused on loving her, getting to know her, and growing as soul mates?  Marvell uses a technique of writing romantically, and luring her in by making her feel wanted and beautiful, when in fact, he is using her.

Marvell's prime focus in the poem is his concern with time going by too quickly. He expresses that they need to demonstrate their love now while they are in their youth, or their chances of being together in the future are slim. He says, "And your quaint honour turn to dust, and into ashes all my lust, The grave's a fine and private place, But none I think do there embrace"(29). Here, Marvell hides his true feelings behind romantic writing. Although, the writing sounds complimentary and romantic, Marvell uses this line as a threat to his Mistress. He explains that they will die, turn to dust, be buried in a grave, and rot before they ever got to express their true feelings. Oh, how romantic! Marvell wishes throughout the poem that by complimenting her, and hiding his sly and cruel remarks by beautiful words that he will persuade her to be with him here and now. But if he truly loved her, he wouldn't mention death, he would simply live in the moment, and let their love grow. Isn't patience a necessity in loving someone? The beauty of love is that, if true, love will continue to grow, in various ways, at multiple times. Marvell is being forceful and demanding with his requests, instead of letting nature takes it's course.  As the poem goes on, his aggressiveness grows, his language becomes rougher, and he grows in angst. He says, in the third and final stanza, "Tear our pleasures with rough strife thorough the iron gates of life" (43). His anger and want for her increases and he slowly becomes more eager to control her. Marvell hides his misogynistic attitude and demanding requests, behind romantic writing, in hopes to persuade his mistress to give in, and to let him take control of their future and their relationship.