Favorite Activity

         One activity I really enjoyed so far this school year was the improvised acting for Hamlet’s act I scene ii. It enabled me to explore my acting ability and realize how Shakespeare’s Hamlet is able to adapt to each era. Furthermore, improvised acting allowed us to learn on an artistic and enjoyable level as appose to a more serious structured lesson. In my opinion, every senior class should have the opportunity to use improvised acting as a form of learning William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. 

Performance Choices

             Performance choices are the stylistic techniques that the actor or actress uses to enhance the performance. In Act I, scene ii of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, I played the role of Hamlet. I chose to verbalize the aside, “A little more than kin, and less than kind!” This line shows the audience that Hamlet is aware that King Claudius’ reference to him as a “cousin” and a “son” is suspicious. When I said, “ Ay, madam, it is common,” I said it in a very derogatory tone. I wanted to show the Queen how it was not common for my noble father to suddenly die. When the Queen asked me why I was still mourning, I responded with anger and authority. I wanted to show the audience that although I verbally agreed with the Queen, my heart disagreed.

The Inadequacies of Modern Man

        In T.S. Eliot’s modernist poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, fragmentation is utilized to communicate Eliot’s vision of a modern man in a modern city.  This post World War I poem effectively shows the disillusionment of people due to the carnage of the War. The fragment “yellow smoke” illustrates how modern man has allowed society to become polluted due to war and technological advancements.  . After WWI, instead of love and create, modern man operates under a new rule: murder and create. The fragment “murder and create” is ironic because usually murder signals death. However, modern man’s society has been created through murder because after killing enemies in war, a new society was built. The fragment “visions and revisions” shows that modern man is indecisive. He does not have a clear understanding of his aspirations and thus, there needs to be constant modification to this hundred visions. The fragment “toast and tea” shows that modern man is too preoccupied with the insignificant matters in life such as taking a toast and tea instead of defining a clear vision. The poem even says, “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” to show that modern man’s life amounts to nothing significant. Modern man procrastinates and puts off important matters because he believes “indeed there will be time.”  Therefore, the poem shows the inadequacies of modern man.

Words

Throughout the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare employs certain diction to help emphasis and exemplify certain themes.  For instance, in the graveyard scene (811-815), Hamlet effectively portrays the theme of the mystery of death. The two clowns attitudes towards the dead conflict with the more revering attitude Hamlet. Furthermore, when Hamlet holds up the skull, it undeniably foreshadows his death and the death of practically everyone in his family. In Hamlets “to be or not to be” (766-769) soliloquy, he constantly asks himself rhetorical questions. Theses unanswerable questions parallel Hamlet to King Claudius. Although they both appear to be different, they are extremely similar. Both characters has the ability to manipulate and use others to their advantage. Ironically, this leads to theirs deaths at the end of the play. In King Claudius’ soliloquy, he asks himself rhetorical questions about confession and going to heaven. His tone is one of anger towards his actions and desperation. He is desperate to not be set to the underworld. Ironically, instead of seeking console, he devises plans to murder Hamlet. In the scene, “Do it, England” (792-795), the reader can see how worried King Claudius is of Hamlet. The emphasis on the words “Do IT” helps emphasis the panic and desperation King Claudius is in. He believes that the only way to survive is to ship Hamlet to his death. In the last scene of the play, (826-830), hamlet and his relative kill each other. Horatio is the only survivor of the pandemonium.  The ending serves as a lesson to all. Vengeance is nothing but trouble and leads to more chaos and suffering; in the most tragic fashion. As they say,  “eye for an eye, [would] make the whole world blind.” 

Figurative Language in Hamlet

       Figurative language is language that uses figures of speech such as metaphor, smile, personification, understatement, paradox, irony and hyperbole. It is a useful tool that enables authors to draw the attention of the reader to an event within a play or novel. In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare commonly uses figurative language to point out dramatic events. For instance, in King Claudius’ soliloquy, there are many different instances in which he uses figurative language. His use of figurative language enables him to easily manipulate all the characters around him in particular Laertes. One example of figurative language is when king Claudius states,      “ With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage.” Not only is it an ironic statement, but it is also metaphoric for how King Claudius feels about the whole situation he has created. The statement at first glance appears to be good: however, when you look at the literal meaning of the words mirth and dirge you see that in reality it is an extremely negative sentence. It also serves as incriminating evidence of King Claudius’ actions. Shakespeare uses such figurative language regularly throughout his plays, especially Hamlet.

How King Claudius Manipulates Laertes

         In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, King Claudius’ most profound trait is his ability to manipulate others. Throughout the play, Claudius manipulates a number of characters. In particular, he manipulates Laertes into killing Hamlet. One factor that enables him to manipulate others so well is overarching attitude and tone. King Claudius has the ability to stay calm and poised, which enables him to manipulate others. Another factor that enables Claudius to manipulate Laertes so well is his continues usage of words to encourage Laertes. He states, “Good Laertes” and “like a good child and true gentleman” to encourage Laertes and prove to him that Claudius is on his side. King Claudius seals the deal by saying, “let the great axe fall.” This resembles the justice that should fall on Hamlet. It also allows Claudius to make Laertes feel that he is on his side. King Claudius’ ability to manipulate is a trait necessary of all villains and thus, proves how truly evil King Claudius is.