The movie made a deep impact on me; the characterization was superb, especially Hamlet, whose performance brought the emotion of the film to life. His girlfriend, Ophelia too performed in a manner that resonated with the destructive energy raised by Hamlet’s vengeful actions. Her insanity and subsequent suicide, indicating the imminent loss of important people Hamlet would encounter in his quest. While it is an absorbing tragedy, Hamlet manages to do a final and last act of honor by leaving the throne to prince Fontibras of Norway (Kenneth, 1996). With his dying breath, he instructs Horatio to explain to the prince the circumstances leading to the deaths, in this way; he frees himself from the guilt of his silence, and clears the air on his role to the bloodshed. In an indication of his status in death, the new prince instructs a state burial for Hamlet, complete with a guard of honor, he retained his respect and honor in death.
The movie ‘Hamlet’ is a tragedy fuelled by madness. The characterization of Hamlet interests me. The situation of a prince leading an unhappy life, going mad and finally dying tragically, characterizes the whole plot of the story (Jane, 1996). All the main characters are invaded by a madness of one kind or the other. revenge drives Hamlet and Laertes are to madness. Ophelia goes insane due to her love for her father, while Gertrude is possessed by the need for affection to the point of blindly loving his husband Claudius. Claudius the antagonist in this movie triggers all the madness by his own power hungry insanity, by killing Hamlet’s father. This movie to me is about the capability of man’s insanity when they allow their goals to overshadow their better judgment, rather than act logically. Everyone dies in the end, for being too emotionally attached.
The movie Hamlet is a dramatic representation of what a man’s quest for revenge can achieve. The movie is about a young man named Hamlet who seeks to avenge the death of his father. His quest for revenge seems hesitant, as he takes time to ascertain the truth to the claims that his uncle killed his father (Jane, 1996). His uncle, Claudius, who is the current king rose to power by killing hamlet’s father who was king then. Further, he marries Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, who appears to have no clue of his husband’s evil. At the time of his father’s poisoning, Hamlet was out of the country only to come back home to his father’s burial and his mother’s wedding. These developments left him distraught. His father through a ghost appears to him and reveals that Claudius killed him by poisoning him in his sleep. The ghost further instructs him to avenge it by killing his uncle. Hamlet is not sure if indeed his uncle could be culpable to the murder, stages a play re-enacting his father’s death. He observes his uncle’s reaction and determines he killed his father. After his attempt to kill his uncle, his uncle realizes that his actions are known and plots to kill Hamlet
The plot degenerates where Hamlet kills Polonius after mistakenly taking him for Claudius. His girlfriend, Ophelia, goes mad (after learning of Polonius’s death who was her father) and eventually commits suicide. Gertrude dies after drinking poison intended for Hamlet, while hamlet dies in a staged fencing duel where Claudius had arranged Laertes to kill him in avenging his father, Polonius’s death. Hamlet and Laertes die in a duel, but not before Hamlet manages to kill Claudius (Kenneth, 1996).
Works Cited
"Amazon.com: Hamlet (1996): Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, Kate Winslet, Robin Williams: Amazon Instant Video." Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
Jane M. "Movie Review - Hamlet - More Things in 'Hamlet' Than Are Dreamt Of In Other Adaptations - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., 25 Dec. 1996. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
