You can watch the scene here, but I think this screenshot captures my former "distaste" for Hawke's version of the soliloquy well:
Liam W. observed that Hamlet's words work nicely with the setting, arguing that Hamlet asks questions as he surveys different movies and aisles. The movies become symbolic representations of "To be or not to be," suggesting the different paths, options, and outcomes Hamlet might encounter as he chooses to act and become the revenger of the classical myth cycle we have discussed in class (aka 1) atrocity, 2) creation of the revenger, 3) atrocity).
This interpretation redeems the scene for me immensely because it shows that on top of being a huge product placement for renting at-home movies, it is also a modern construct of what it means "to be" or "not to be."
In the comments below—
1) discuss your response to Liam's observation. I know that Ivy, Hannah, and Caroline all had interesting ideas to chime in, and I'd love to hear them again.
2) What do you think of the setting, the words, and the ideas that Hamlet is grappling with in this scene?
3) Moreover, how would you tie this scene into the the classical myth cycle (atrocity, creation of the revenger, atrocity)? How would you tie it into the theme of the outer and the inner world? Or, the idea that what happens in the external world is echoed by what is occurring in the internal world?
You do not have to answer all of these questions, but please respond as fully as you can. I am eager to hear your thoughts on this important part of the play!
-Dr. Brigman
1) Liam's response provides a nice interpretation and a clarifying aspect to this scene. I had not thought about it in that way, and at first was confused as to why they placed the scene there (besides the ad factor).
ReplyDelete2) However, I would say that I do not like the placement of this scene, because I think the scene is a very serious one and should be placed in a more serious place.
3) I think that this scene is helping to provide the change from atrocity to the creation of the revenger. I think this, because in debating the worth of life would provide an idea of living to get revenge. "How would you tie it into the theme of the outer and the inner world? Or, the idea that what happens in the external world is echoed by what is occurring in the internal world?" In response to these questions, I agree with Liam. Providing the showing of inner thoughts and paths that could be taken, by making the choice or having choices in the external world.
1) I think that Liam's observation provides an interesting interpretation, that I had not thought about. I think that it does provide a lot of pathways, like they are in his head.
ReplyDelete2) I think that the setting is terrible, because I think that the scene has a lot deeper thought, than picking a movie.
3) I think the choice that Hamlet makes or the realization he comes to in his thoughts, marks the ending of Atrocity and begins the creation of the revenger. Through the scene in the movie, like I said before, I think the inner pathways Hamlet is going through is echoed by the different movie choices.
1.) I agree with Liam's observation, as you choose what movie to watch, you are making a decision. The modern concept of Hamlet being in a Blockbuster is a great way to tie in the theme of decision making in a modern rendition.
ReplyDelete2.) Another thing I immediately noticed about the scene is that the movie, from 2000, would have been released in the height of Blockbuster's career, and therefore, make Blockbuster a very familiar place to those watching in 2000. This would allow the viewer to focus on the speech instead of the setting, as the setting is currently a very familiar place. I personally believe that when you watch a movie, having an idea of the release date for the film is important; when you have such knowledge it allows you to understand the audience for which the movie has been created, and therefore be more understanding about the context.
3.) I believe that in this scene, Hamlet is internally picking and choosing which route he will take, as he picks up different movie titles, internally he is doing the same, but with the paths which he can potentially take. Externally he picks up an Action Thriller movie, and internally he is imagining the route of revenge.
I remember going to the video store with my brother where we would spend quite a long time pondering over the selection to make sure we picked out the perfect movie for the weekend. However, more often than not, we were unable to agree on one movie and ended up renting two movies. "The best of both worlds," which Hamlet cannot have.
DeleteI disagree, setting it in a familiar place and not realizing the setting leads to lot of misconceptions. I think you are supposed to see the scene, because it helps advance and provide clarification to the person watching the movie. Plus has hidden hints.
Delete1) I agree with Liam's observations, there are decisions that come along with choosing a movie because you do not want to come home with a movie you do not what to watch, and you do not want to kill your uncle and regret it. Killing your uncle is similar to picking a movie on a much more extreme level; Hamlet is overthinking killing his uncle because it should not be a hard decision.
ReplyDelete2) The words that Hamlet says in this scene are important because it represents the whole play by displaying the theme– action.
3) This scene ties into the myth cycle of atrocity because Hamlet talks about debating on killing his uncle or not which is resembling how his thoughts are a way of showing atrocity because some peoples thoughts and “eat them alive”. He is also thinking about his fathers death could be revenge from his uncle because it is something that Hamlet cannot get out of his head.
Caroline Philbrook
ReplyDeleteAP Literature
February 10th, 2016
Blog Questions
1. I think Liam has a good point about hamlet going into the action section because it relates to the play that it is an action/drama play. Also choosing different paths that hamlet walks through and has to make, deciding on a decision for a movie, and making decisions that he has to make on his own about his uncle.
2) What do you think of the setting, the words, and the ideas that Hamlet is grappling with in this scene?
The setting is settle, while hamlet is dark and gloomy in this quiet place. The words can turn the happiest man into a depressed one. Hamlet is pondering about his death and if he should die. Not contemplating it, but wondering if he should be dead or not. Im sure the added hat and blockbuster images are to make the scene a little stranger which is probably supposed to confuse the watcher of this scene. It makes this scene have a little settle dark humor. Although ophelia wasn’t part of this scene, they managed to make this scene interesting.
3) Moreover, how would you tie this scene into the classical myth cycle (atrocity, creation of the revenger, atrocity)? How would you tie it into the theme of the outer and the inner world? Or, the idea that what happens in the external world is echoed by what is occurring in the internal world?
How would you tie this scene into the classical cycle of drama-literature, I would say this scene would be before the “creation of the revenger” The main character pondering about himself and his death instead of the uncle’s death which hamlet is supposed to take (his life.) But also, this defiantly does tie into the atrocity part, hamlet being upset over everything that has happened that is atrocity. Hamlets father’s death, his uncle marries his mother, his uncle has been unsupported and is planning to ship hamlet to England. His expression of emotion is all together atrocity, but the beginning of the drama (Atrocity)
How you would tie in this scene with the inner world and the outer world is hamlet feels trapped in his own sadness and is deciding whether or not he should die, rather then deciding if he should kill himself. How this relates to the store, is hamlets hard time choosing a movie to rent, which is similar to his situation “to be or not to be” making a decision. Should he get a movie or not? and theres so many choices in the store to make, like as hamlet has many choices to make to.
1) discuss your response to Liam's observation. I know that Ivy, Hannah, and Caroline all had interesting ideas to chime in, and I'd love to hear them again.
ReplyDeleteI found Liam’s observation about this scene to be quite interesting. At first glance it seemed rather odd that Hamlet should be reciting the famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy in a blockbuster, but after hearing Liam’s thoughts the placement gradually made more sense. To begin (I admit I did not pick up on this and that it is Liam’s discovery), Hamlet is pacing the action aisle and does not move to any other section of the store. Action movies typically have a hero, and that hero goes out on an adventure with the objective to rescue someone or take their revenge. In this scene Hamlet is struggling with his conscience, whether he should take his revenge and be the “hero,” or whether he should be moralistic and let his uncle live. Additionally, in this adaptation of Hamlet, Hamlet has an interest in making his own films. After picking up on that I am further convinced that it is fitting to place Hamlet’s soliloquy in a blockbuster.
2) What do you think of the setting, the words, and the ideas that Hamlet is grappling with in this scene?
As said in question one, after having further discussion and paying closer attention, I found the setting of this scene to be appropriate. Hamlet’s famous words “to be or not to be” align with him scanning the movie options in the action aisle, treating the selection of movies as the different paths he could take regarding his revenge. By the end of the scene Hamlet has still not chosen a movie to rent and ends up not picking one out at all. Similarly, he has not come to a decision about whether he should kill his uncle or not.
3) Moreover, how would you tie this scene into the the classical myth cycle (atrocity, creation of the revenger, atrocity)? How would you tie it into the theme of the outer and the inner world? Or, the idea that what happens in the external world is echoed by what is occurring in the internal world?
As stated in question 2, this scene ties the inner world to the outer world by pairing Hamlet’s difficult decision about his revenge with the more silly decision of what movie to rent. The inner world is represented through Hamlet’s musings, his questions and his thoughts which express how troubled and unsure he is about what he should or should not do. The outer world is represented by the large selection of movies that can be picked up, considered, and then either put back or chosen to be the movie for the night. Similarly, Hamlet has an interest in filmmaking in this movie adaptation of Hamlet, and can often be seen with a video camera or re-watching his own films. The camera and the film are tangible, and the processes of Hamlet’s mind (the inner world and the intangible) are revealed with the use of his camera, an element of the “outer world.”