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Hamlet Film Response
Hamlet is a film that presents a Contemporary New York City version of Shakespeare’s remarkable story about Hamlet’s predicament to revenge his father’s killing. In the play, Hamlet is seen as an ambitious filmmaker, and also an individual referred to as Claudius has just been and he promptly marries Hamlet’s mother. The promotion happens after the death of Hamlet’s father. It is evident from the film that Almereyda possess a robust as well as a clear vision of the gleaming contemporary world that he intends to create, and thus he cuts the film apt in the boundaries of that world (Fedderson, p.156). In the film, Hamlet is visualized by Almereyda as a student, and therefore readers typically learn of Hamlet’s occupation as a student in Act 1 of the film. Both King Claudius, Hamlet and also Queen Gertrude are all perceived discussing the sorrow that they feel, over the death of Hamlet’s father. However, the Queen does not seem to worry more over the demise and looks like she is ready to continue with her normal life.
On the other side, Hamlet seemed to be struggling and affected a lot by the grief, and he starts to be suspicious of both the recently crowned King and the Queen (Shakespeare, p46). On learning this, the King decides to provide his amenities as Hamlet’s father and therefore in this juncture, readers absorb that Hamlet had been schooling in Wittenberg. As Claudius puts it, “for your intent in going back to school in (115) Wittenberg, it is our desire for you to remain here with us under our watch and live in comfort.” This exists as crucial evidence that shows Hamlet was studying in Wittenberg. However what he is studying at Wittenberg University is not presented in the film, but it can be suggested that he was studying religion, literature, and philosophy. This can be attributed to the fact that during that period there were no ‘majors’ in the universities as presently. Also, the fact that he read the humanity and religious books is portrayed by how at one point in the movie he articulates his cynical outlook of humankind in some conspicuous allegories.
Hamlet exists as a student whose educations are interrupted by the demise of his father, and therefore he is tremendously logical and contemplative. In his life, he is typically faced with some difficult questions that seem not to be responded with some certainty. Hamlet is faced with some evidence that his uncle Claudius killed his father, and the evidence exist as the one that any other individual character would believe. He becomes obsessed with ascertaining his uncle’s guiltiness before starting to act. However, in the process, he is equally plagued with some questions concerning the wisdom of suicide, the mysteries of the afterlife as well as to what happens to the bodies once they die among many other issues.
The film tends to be a revenge drama, and however, the play comprises of Hamlet’s incapability to have some revenge. It is evident that the audience expectation was watching a fierce fight with some swords, but to their disappointment instead of bloody clashes and acts, they receive some endless bloody thoughts. Hamlets seem to doubt everything he experiences for example even the ghost that demands some revenge (Thompson, p.31). Also when Claudius confesses to having killed his father, he does not revenge. Therefore, Hamlet does not exist a version of individuals’ best self and authentic humanity in the current society. Hamlet’s inability of being committed, his radical reserve, misogynistic unkindness as well as suicidal melodrama exists as some of the current society’s unappealing aspects.
American culture, for example, the pop culture is presented in the film using, for example, the arts. Moreover, Hamlet portrays a depiction of mental health conditions which is a substantial aspect in America’s healthcare. The film has resulted in some critical discussions on mental health disorders to a vast number of American individuals who might not have thought about them. Consequently, it has shown some potential of helping reduce the stigma around these conditions. Ultimately, this production has unlocked the dialogue about mental health disorders for youngsters for an extended time and will also do the same in the prospect.
Works Cited
Thompson, Ann, and Neil Taylor, eds. Hamlet: A Critical Reader. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016.
Shakespeare, William, Graham Holderness, and Bryan Loughrey. Hamlet-The First Quarto (Sos). Routledge, 2014.
Fedderson, Kim, and J. Michael Richardson. “Hamlet 9/11: Sound, Noise, And Fury In Almereyda’s Hamlet”. College Literature, vol 31, no. 4, 2004, pp. 150-170. Johns Hopkins University Press, doi:10.1353/lit.2004.0053.