Ophelia

In John Everett Millais painting of Ophelia I think it looks like she was trying to kill herself, it doesn't look like she has accidentally fallen. Her facial expression looks calm and she seems to be just floating. The setting also looks peaceful and happy with all the flowers around, it doesn't look like a death scene. The skull in the flowers was a clever idea because that is the only symbol of death in the painting and it helps to put that little twist on the painting. Ophelia's death is questionable but I think in the painting it looks peaceful and more of planned out or wanted instead of an accident.

Shakespeare portrayed Ophelia as a young innocent girl falling in love with Hamlet and as the play goes on she turns into a psycho girl gone mad. The play starts out with Ophelia and Hamlet happily in love. Ophelia faces many upsets throughout the play which eventually cause her to go crazy. She's put in the predicament of choosing between her father and Hamlet, the man she loves abut is told to stay away from. After picking her father, Hamlet becomes very angry and upset and he may say some things such as he never loved Ophelia, only out of anger but this has a big effect on Ophelia. Ophelia starts to push herself away from Hamlet because of his anger. Hamlet kills Polonius and Ophelia comes to find out her so called "lover" has just killed her father. Ophelia has no one to turn to anymore her father is now dead and her and Hamlet are over. She is a young clueless girl out of love and she can't trust anyone so what is she to do? This causes her to go mad and crazy and then get these thoughts of drowning herself cause she cannot see a good reason for her to continue her life. I don't know if Gertrude watched Ophelia die but she might've because I don't think she cared much about her and it didn't matter if she lived or died. I like the way Ophelia was portrayed in the play and if I were too direct it I would keep it the same and not change much, I would keep Ophelia lonely and mad as she became.

To Be or Not To Be

Oliviers' version of Halmet's To Be or Not To Be is taken place on a cliff which makes it dramatic showing the choice of death. Also the music and wind gives emotion and makes you a little scared as to what can happen. The only thing I didn't like was at times it looks as if he is posing on this rock. When he slowly pulls out a knife you start to think he may kill himself and music starts to play to make it eerie. Dropping the knife off the cliff shows that he won't kill himself he turns away that choice.

Zeffirelli's version is effective because he's in the basement with these bodies and being able to see what choice he may make. Also he raises and lowers his voice to make you feel the words he is saying and it sounds more powerful. It's very dark in this scene and that causes the mood to also feel dark and scary. The stairs show a little bit of light which gives the choice to walk up them into life or choose death which is right there in the basement.

Branaugh's version shows Hamlet talking to himself in the mirror like he is taking within himself and it gives him the chance to look at himself and decide upon his life. He pulls out a knife like Olivier's version causing it to get eery and he touches it against his face to make you think he may hurt himself. Also in this version we see Ophelia walk in at the end of the speech and it shows that people are listening and spying on him. I don't really like this version because his voice stays low and i wasn't very into it emotionally.

Almereyda's version is taking place in Blockbuster so it doesn't seem to be on too much of a serious note. This version shows many symbols as he paces the isles, as he switches the isle the choices he talks about also change. The TV is showing fire which can be seen as a sign of death. The music in the background is very slow and sad and creates a mood. His voice is also soft and low and it matches with the music to give that sad feeling.

hamlet ghost films*

The first film that we watched of Hamlet was very dark and scary to create the mood. The ghost changed his voice to be loud at some parts to express his revenge he wanted but then he became soft at other parts to get Hamlet feeling sad. Hamlet's face expression captured how he had felt. In the first film emotions played a big part. When they glanced inside it was bright and people were partying so that expressed the good moods but outside on the rooftop with Hamlet and the ghost was the opposite.

The second film was like the first film in which it was dark and scary, he ghosts voice was like a whisper and some parts and very deep at others but remains scary. In the beginning Hamlet is talking fast explosions are going off and there is a lot happening. While the ghost is talking they show many flashbacks which I think was a good method and gave a better understanding of what he was saying. The ghost gets very close to Hamlet and the camera zooms on his scary cold eyes to make you look into his eyes and feel how he's trying to make Hamlet feel. This film tries to make you feel more involved.

The third film was interesting because it was more modern even though the language was the same, the movements and the settings were modern day. This film is different from all the others because it is the only film that the ghost touches Hamlet, the other two they become close but never touch. Throughout this film I think it is more emotional because the ghost is a normal person and he is gripping onto his hankerchief to show how he's feeling, also they share a lot of tears unlike the other films.

I think Serling's quote is basically saying that not all violence is created with weapons. Violence and evil starts inside yourself with something as simple as a thought. The thought can then grow and unleash the monster that is inside yourself. When we think of violence everyone automatically thinks of fights or weapons. Many don't realize all the violence that can be just created with words and then into actions. I agree with this quote especially after watching the Salem Witch Trials because these girls drove the town mad with accusations without evidence they convinced the town and that was enough to cause the town mad.

p. 1235 "They did not celebrate Christmas and a holiday from work meant only that hey must concentrate even more upon prayer."

Society back in the times of when the story took place was much different than today. Celebrations didn't exist to them but now we not only celebrate holidays but we prepare, decorate and look forward to them. The town in Salem seems to be a gloomy dreadful place to live compared to the happiness and excitement we share on holidays today. In the present days off from work are known as vacation days because you are able to relax or do whatever you please on these days. When vacations come to mind you think of something fun but in this story a holiday from work was more time to pray. Another thing that has changed is religion. We don't have to spend hours at church and sermons like they did. Going to church and praying is an option and we all make our own choices about it.