Hamlet Paper Essay Example
Hamlet Paper Essay Example

Hamlet Paper Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
Topics:
  • Pages: 4 (922 words)
  • Published: May 19, 2018
  • Type: Paper
View Entire Sample
Text preview

The way in which Aphelia's emotions are portrayed differs between the 1996 Branch film and the original text, with both versions emphasizing the same ideas but through varied means. The opening scene of the film sees Aphelia lying curled in the fetal position in a straitjacket, conveying her vulnerability and weakness. The use of this restraint hints that Aphelia is mentally ill, which is reinforced by her soft-spoken voice as she converses with Gertrude. As she struggles to break free from the jacket, fear washes over her face, indicating her lack of awareness of her surroundings and further highlighting her insanity. Throughout the scene, Aphelia's voice grows louder and more furious as she sings about her "true love" and dead father.In this scene, the director has Aphelia speak instead of sing a set of lines to emphasize the significance

...

of her insanity and build up tension for a later song. Prior to singing about Hamlet's betrayal, the camera is focused on all the characters to illustrate Aphelia's disillusionment and her interactions with others. The focus then shifts to Aphelia as she sings key lines building up to the climax of her madness. To prompt a flashback, the screen gradually blacks out while she sings about promises of marriage and their sexual encounter. This flashback answers audience questions about Aphelia's innocence and underscores the importance of her message, conveyed through her boisterous and high-pitched delivery.Aphelion's tone and facial expression change to one of sadness as she discusses her father's death, focusing solely on him rather than a blend with Hamlet. The scene ends with Aphelia and Claudia getting into a fight, with Aphelia running out i

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

an insane state. The film's opening features Aphelia singing softly to Gertrude according to the original text. Her rigid body language and melancholic melody suggest she is suppressing her emotions, until she abruptly changes tone and angrily declares her father's death. Aphelia then runs around the room wildly, flailing her body and screaming, showing the extent of her madness. The director successfully uses her body language as a tool to convey the character's mental state.Aphelia whispers to Claudia, quoting "we know what we are, but know not what we may be" (Ham 4.5.42), demonstrating her bewilderment regarding her identity. While lowering her voice, she offers a grave warning about the ease of falling into this madness. Her sad eyes show the compassion she feels for Claudia. It's worth noting that this statement portrays her as being serious and not just another remark made from madness. This moment is Aphelia's turning point. She reaches a state of extreme madness, portrayed through her unruly physical appearance and screams while running around the room. She throws her clothes off and sings out loud, emphasizing on "Young men will do't, if they come to't; By Cock, they are to blame. Before you tumbled me, You promised me to wed" (Ham 4..59-61). The director highlights this scene focusing on Aphelia's appearance and louder tone when saying these lines. Undressing symbolizes the betrayal she experienced from Hamlet. It confirms her innocence, clarifying the importance of her speech. The scene's ending underlines Aphelia's current state.Leaving all the other characters in shock and confusion, Aphelion grabs her clothes and exits the room in a hurry, a scene intentionally crafted to allow viewers to

identify with the other characters. The Tenant film and 1996 Branch film revolve around Aphelion's psychological breakdown triggered by her fractured relationship with Hamlet and explore this theme uniquely and similarly. Despite one script's use of the original text while the other only gives Aphelia lines until her song about Hamlet's sexual betrayal, both build up to this scene's climax using Aphelion's voice tone and pitch to create suspense. In both films, camera angles become crucial in highlighting certain moments when Aphelia is the sole focus, such as in the Tenant film when she utters "we know what we are, but know not what we may be" (Ham 4.5.42) or in the Branch film when she sings her song beginning with "Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's Day" (Ham 4..47).The significance of certain lines in these movies is highlighted by the directors, with one delving into the root of Aphelion's insanity and the other revealing the pain behind the relationship between Hamlet and Aphelion. Both films utilize Aphelion's body language to convey her instability, portraying her erratic movements with no discernible pattern. While both directors ultimately convey similar opinions, they employ different tactics to achieve their desired effect. In Tenant, Aphelia screams the lines "Young men will dot, if they come toot; By Coco, they are to blame. Before you tumbled me, You promised me to wed" (Ham 4.5.59-61) as she undresses, while in Branch, she sings the same lines during a flashback of her and Hamlet's sexual encounter. The directors aim to demonstrate that Aphelia is not as innocent as some may believe, and that her relationship with Hamlet was more complicated than it appears. Despite

similarities in their approach, the directors differ in their interpretation of how best to promote this idea, resulting in distinct climactic moments in each film.Both the Tenant and Branch films employ visual techniques to suggest a romantic bond between Aphelia and Hamlet. However, while the Tenant film relies on subtle allusions, the Branch film takes a more explicit approach by using a mysterious flashback to fully reveal their intimate connection.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New