Ophelia's Eulogy

I think Ophelia was meant to be portrayed as a way more dramatic version of the typical mourning process of someone after the death of a loved one. Her crazy rants and antics were just brought about from her nature and that is how she dealt with the loss of her father. Many people on a regular basis lose people closest to them and the way they go about mourning is different from person to person. I think Shakespeare chose to make Ophelia seem more crazy because I think he has a horrible experience with women in general. Based on the previous scene where Hamlet rants to Ophelia about her ways when she broke things off with, it fades into not only being about Ophelia's ways but his mother's and women period. I think Ophelia's mental health is another way for Shakespeare to input his view on women and how he thinks or has seen them react in situations such a this. While I think the idea of death and suicide is a little bit overboard, I believe this is just how Shakespeare views women. It is tragic but true.

I believe that Ophelia got buried the way she deserved. If she actually did commit suicide, it is not fair to others that were in the same boat as her and committed suicide because of what they were feeling and what they were thinking to receive an improper burial while just because of her stance and position in society she could have been able to receive a proper burial. It is known that other than the "sinful" acts of intimacy before marriage and adultery period, suicide is also another sin "frowned upon" by the man above. So if she committed an act of sin, why can her soul not be punished as would a normal person who has done the same thing? I do not think her status should be a topic in whether or not she should be sanctified or not.

I do think, though, that Ophelia purposefully drowned herself. With the emotions she expressed in the book and in the film, it was possible that her emotions took control of what was really right. She may have felt that with her father being dead, there was nothing to live for or just the fact that the most important man in her life being gone forever is really getting to her. I feel bad for her because she not only had to give up the love of her life because of her dad, but her dad is now dead. Too many things happened at once and she was probably deep in her feelings.
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EULOGY
Ophelia. Her beautiful soul has left us. Many feel that her burial was improper and did not meet the standards of what people of her class and honor deserve. But I disagree. The fact is, she committed suicide and that is a sin. Many people around, although their reasons for committing may be different, why does she deserve to be sanctified as if she were the purest being on the planet. I get that her position in society may have been up near the top but does putting the fact that your latest mixtape is fire on your college resume get you the acceptance and scholarship money you want. No. And this case is no different. Your place on the social ladder does not give you a free pass on life hacks. I believe Ophelia's burial was perfectly fine being the circumstances.

Hamlet's Dilemma

I think that Hamlet's hesitation the kill Claudius is understandable. But I believe that what puts one in heaven or hell is based on what he or she has done in their life. I do not think it is based off of how you die. While I do not know what actually comes after death, that is what I think. But in the time that this play was written, the worshipping of God and how people practiced their worshipping is sort of different from today. Today, some of the things people once thought were the acts of God and the universe were proven false on a scientific point of view, like the Heliocentric Theory. So Hamlet's idea that Claudius would go to heaven instead of hell if he were killed in the act of praying is easily understandable and his choice of killing him in a sinful act that would result in him going to hell is too understandable.

As for whether Hamlet is doing the right thing in waiting on killing Claudius or not, I do not think he is right for that. I believe that too many things can occur in between the moment he could of killed Claudius and when he actually does kill Claudius, especially because Claudius is sneaky and has proven that he can get away with murdering the king. While I do not think he should of killed Claudius when he was praying, I think he is spending too much time thinking about how everyone is betraying him and focus on his plan.

I don't think Claudius is serious about be guilty. I think he was surprised that the play Hamlet put on was extremely close to what actually happened. I feel that he does not want to live with the burden of his actions but wants to keep all that he gained for doing his sinful act. For Hamlet, I believe that his reputation is at stake. Everyone around him thinks that he is crazy, except for Horatio, and it may tarnish what people think of him. I believe that if Hamlet actually does kill Claudius, he will be the main suspect. All of his antics and crazy behavior may be what makes people question whether he is actually the man everyone thought he was. His place on the throne might disappear along with the craziness.

2B or not 2B

The first video, with Olivier, was very old looking. The setting looked to be high up on a cliff or mountain. It gives the effect that Hamlet was actually going to kill himself or was thinking of doing do there. The director seems to be trying the show the process of Hamlet's  or possibly anyone who was in that position, thoughts and the weighing of possibilities and choices for why this may or may not be the last resort to the issues at hand. There did not seem to be any music only in the very beginning of the clip and when hamlet leaned over with the dagger and aimed it at himself. The sound of waves in the background gave a sort of serene feeling to the not so serene vibe and topic of this scene. I think the director made it this way to make it more or an internal conflict Hamlet was having with himself instead of a conversation with another person. The actor in this version seems to be in such deep thought that he is emotionless and his movements are lackadaisical.

The Mel Gibson version was set in what looked like a cellar or underground burial room for the castle, possibly the king's grave sight. This adds to the idea of life or death, and whether its better to stay alive or dying. I think the director is still trying to showcase the conflict Hamlet is having. In this version, there was no music and I think that is because the emotion Mel Gibson put into the scene was enough to convey the message without the need of an orchestra. I think the director used to tomb to emphasize the idea of death and how there is no turning back once you are dead. The skulls, the stone casket, and the overall dusty appearance, tome, portrayed the idea that some people are forgotten after their death and are neglected spiritually. And I Feel like Hamlet says this speech to convey the idea that his mother quickly neglect his father after his death and quickly married Claudius. I think Mel Gibson showed the true confusion of Hamlet. The idea of death or live and which one is better weighs heavily on Hamlet but he also knows that the afterlife may not be all that great.

In the third version of this scene, Branagh acts as if he knows Claudius and Polonius are behind the mirror that he is talking into. The way he stares into the mirror and the motions he makes with the dagger when he pulls it out seems like something one who do when faced with he or she's enemy. Branagh also for the first time is whispering but he still seems mad instead of the past versions where Hamlet seems to be in self thought. The setting gives the scene a less sad vibe whereas the other version are all depressing. I think this connects with the way Hamlet talks because he seems more like he is saying his speech to what is behind the mirror instead of a self-reflection. This version also did not have any music and I also think it has to do with the emotions Branagh is portraying with his words and acting skills. I think Branagh states these lines with anger and as if he were saying more to Claudius and Polonius that they do not know what comes after death so they should be afraid.

In the last version, Hawke is walking by himself in a Blockbuster. I think is more on the track of his internal conflict because it starts off as what seems like a mental conversion with himself but then becomes a outspoken verse. I think the setting creates the idea that in everyday life, people battle with themselves mentally and no one knows. It makes the situation more realistic and relatable in the beginning. The way Hawke says the lines seems like he angry with the thoughts he was having but with the way he is feeling, it seems like the only way out. The music in the back seems sympathetic. It is sad in the way that the topic at hand is a sad one. It is not too dramatic but it is more than just letting the emotions portrayed by the actor to get the message across.

I believe there are so many versions because each director and actor sees the scene in different lights. Some view the scene as a way to foreshadow upcoming events while others think that it is actually a internal problem Hamlet is debating. I think that Hamlet as a person is universal in the fact that he is relatable and that his ideas are some that we as everyday people think about everyday. It may or may not be to the extreme or life or death but everyone has conflicts that we debate on regularly.

The Ghost Scene

In the first version, Mel Gibson played Hamlet. I think that the setting was eerie and gave off a ghostly vibe. Zeffirelli made Hamlet seem more determined in this version than the ones we watched. He chased after the ghost in a more intense way than the ways of Hamlet in the other two films. The music in the background was not spooky but it matched the sad vibes when the ghost and Hamlet started crying. I think it added to the affect of the ghostly vibe without making too scary movie-ish. As said before, the setting was spooky and it was dark and seemed to be on the rooftop of the castle. This was different from the others because the Branagh version was more colorful and out there with the effects and scenery, and the Almereyda version the set  in the early 2000s.

The second version was the Branagh version and was more artist and colorful than the other to. preferably I did not like this one but it was more visually pleasing. Hamlet, in this version, seemed to be running from something instead of to the ghost in this scene. the ghost was also a lot more scary in this version. the ghost in the first version was calmer and the ghost in the third version was  more standoffish, while the ghost in this version seem a lot more angry and out to get revenge. The setting being in the woods also gave the scene a weird vibe and there sound like thunder in the back. the ghost was forever yell-whispering and it added to the creepy music. I think the special effects were too much and I did not understand the land and nature scenes put in the midst of the rambling. I think the rambling of Hamlet foreshadowed the "craziness" Hamlet plans to show after this.

The last version was way more modern than the first two. I felt that this version, despite its modern theme, was boring. I think Hawke was too nonchalant and the way he acted was not equivalent to what the book portrays. The director used the TV in the back to sort of establish what is to happen after the true about the king's death is out. Also, the fact that the actor playing the king constantly wipes his ear may signify that idea that the avenge of his death will let to an easy afterlife.