Hamlet: the intimate and violent lover The beauty of live performance lies in the vast potential interpretations of the same event. The scene between Hamlet and Ophelia is quite complex and up for interpretation. There is a lack of emotion and intimacy between Ophelia and Hamlet. This can especially be noted in the scene in which Ophelia is used as a decoy to set Hamlet up. In the Shakespearean version, Hamlet and Ophelia appear quite distant. There is little to no physical contact. However, in the performance of Hamlet this is not the case. Hamlet is very hands on with Ophelia. He even throws her down at one point, but after he goes on to kiss Ophelia passionately. The decision to have Hamlet show affection to Ophelia through physical contact
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This part was very unexpected, the conversation is escalated at this point. The conversation is escalated past the point of no return. In the text version of the play Hamlet keeps saying, “Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me.”(Shakespeare 3:1 123-126). However in the play, it is after this line that he throws Ophelia to the ground and continues to repeat the phrase “get thee to a nunnery.” The repetition of the chosen phrase is strange. According to the text it should only be said once, but it is repeated numerous times adding to the madness of Hamlet. This is meant to get the audience’s attention. The phrase not only tells, but it commands Ophelia to get to a nunnery. Implying that Ophelia would become a nun and live a chaste life. Consequently, when he pushes her to the ground he pushes himself away from sanity and being forgiven. This is what the point of no return is. The use of the command and physical action towards Ophelia, work together to highlight the insanity of
This part was very unexpected, the conversation is escalated at this point. The conversation is escalated past the point of no return. In the text version of the play Hamlet keeps saying, “Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me.”(Shakespeare 3:1 123-126). However in the play, it is after this line that he throws Ophelia to the ground and continues to repeat the phrase “get thee to a nunnery.” The repetition of the chosen phrase is strange. According to the text it should only be said once, but it is repeated numerous times adding to the madness of Hamlet. This is meant to get the audience’s attention. The phrase not only tells, but it commands Ophelia to get to a nunnery. Implying that Ophelia would become a nun and live a chaste life. Consequently, when he pushes her to the ground he pushes himself away from sanity and being forgiven. This is what the point of no return is. The use of the command and physical action towards Ophelia, work together to highlight the insanity of