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| My man Leo |
Leo Tolstoy does not like Hamlet, Leo Tolstoy does not like any work by Shakespeare "not only did I feel no delight (While reading what is considered Shakespeare's greatest works) but I felt an irresistible repulsion and tedium" (252). Tolstoy's main issue with Hamlet is Hamlet himself. Tolstoy believes that the character Hamlet is merely a vessel for Shakespeare's voice and made no sense in the play. Instead of Hamlet making realistic decisions based on what's going on around him, "He is utterly unconcerned as to the circumstances under which these words are said, and it naturally turns out that the person expressing all these thoughts is a mere phonograph of Shakespeare, without character, whose actions do not agree" (253). Tolstoy explains that Hamlet's irrational behavior is caused by Shakespeare throwing in what ever he wants to spice up the drama in the play.
1) Do you agree with Leo Tolstoy's assessment of Hamlet (Repulsive and Tedious)?
2) Do you believe Hamlet is just a puppet with the voice of Shakespeare whose sole purpose is to add drama to the play?
1) I do agree with Leo Tolstoy and his assessment of Hamlet. I very much dislike reading Shakespeare's work and related to all of the feelings that Tolstoy describes. I feel like I never get hooked and that the work is very jumpy and to many words are used that have 10 million different meanings.
ReplyDelete2) I believe that Hamlet is just a puppet with the voice of Shakespeare whose sole purpose is to add drama to the play. I think that Tolstoy thinks that work need to be longer, because you can not convey all the information in a way that is not "puppet-like." I agree with this, Hamlet takes unjust actions that instantly creates drama, instead of actions and thoughts combining with other thoughts and actions to make drama.
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ReplyDelete1) Do you agree with Leo Tolstoy's assessment of Hamlet (Repulsive and Tedious)?
ReplyDeleteShakespeare is not my favorite, but that is because I find it difficult to read at times which is something I can learn and improve at overtime. I agree that Hamlet's character is unrealistic and Shakespeare's "vessel," however, he is merely a character in a play whose purpose is to create drama. It makes sense that his decisions and emotions are all over the place because he is not supposed to be realistic, he is fictional after all!
2) Do you believe Hamlet is just a puppet with the voice of Shakespeare whose sole purpose is to add drama to the play?
After reading Edgar Allan Poe's review of Hamlet I do think that Hamlet is Shakespeare's puppet. Shakespeare exaggerate's Hamlet's insanity which in turn lengthens the play, adds drama to the play, and makes it more interesting. Without his crazed-manner, Hamlet's character would be less appealing and the play would be lacking in drama and length.
1) Do you agree with Leo Tolstoy's assessment of Hamlet (Repulsive and Tedious)?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leo Tolstoy with his assessment of Hamlet and Shakespeare in general. I have never been interested in Shakespeare’s work; I find his work hard to read because of all the jumps he makes from scene to scene.
2) Do you believe Hamlet is just a puppet with the voice of Shakespeare whose sole purpose is to add drama to the play?
Hamlet does seem to be Shakespeare’s puppet, there would be less unnecessary drama without Hamlet, which could be a good and a bad thing. The play would be less interesting without Hamlet because he causes most of the drama in the play such as in act 3 scene 2; Hamlet talks in “stupid talk” to the groundlings telling them that they are “capable of nothing” and “inexplicable dump” (3.2.10). This causes drama that would never be there unless Hamlet was Shakespeare’s puppet.
1) Do you agree with Leo Tolstoy's assessment of Hamlet (Repulsive and Tedious)?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leo Tolstoy with his assessment of Hamlet and Shakespeare in general. I have never been interested in Shakespeare’s work; I find his work hard to read because of all the jumps he makes from scene to scene.
2) Do you believe Hamlet is just a puppet with the voice of Shakespeare whose sole purpose is to add drama to the play?
Hamlet does seem to be Shakespeare’s puppet, there would be less unnecessary drama without Hamlet, which could be a good and a bad thing. The play would be less interesting without Hamlet because he causes most of the drama in the play such as in act 3 scene 2; Hamlet talks in “stupid talk” to the groundlings telling them that they are “capable of nothing” and “inexplicable dump” (3.2.10). This causes drama that would never be there unless Hamlet was Shakespeare’s puppet.