Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is indeed a tragic play. Although there are comic moments, the overall sense of violence and impending doom are never left to doubt. There are many facets and differing interpretations about this play, two of which I was able to watch and consider. I viewed the BBC production of Hamlet starring David Tennant and also the 1996 Kenneth Branagh production. The emotional impact of this play was much greater in one production than in the other and this is due to the way the relationships and subplots were portrayed in each.
The Fortinas subplot was removed from the BBC production starring David Tennant and I think this took away from the overall emotional impact of the film. The BBC production …show more content…
Through the use of flashbacks, it is made clear that Ophelia and Hamlet were lovers and had a sexual relationship. She not only lost her father to murder, but she has lost Hamlet’s love and most likely has no idea why. It seems that it is a deception on Hamlet’s part because he knows that he is being watched and so he casts her aside. The Branagh production looks deeper into Ophelia’s psyche and I understand this more easily that it is her emotional instability that leads to her madness. Kate Winslet plays the role of Ophelia very well and her screams are gut wrenching as she watches her father’s body being carried out of Elsinore castle. In this production, her madness is a concern and she is locked in a cell to keep her from harm. Unfortunately, she has stolen a key and is able to escape which leads to her accidental or suicidal …show more content…
Through Hamlet’s dialogue and actions there is a sense of building tension, disgust, and violence within him towards his mother and in both productions his violence erupts in act 3, scene 3, in which he speaks to Gertrude in her bedroom. Hamlet kills the hidden Polonius, at first thinking it is the King. After more dialogue with his mother, he is visited again by his father’s ghost. Hamlet does go through some turmoil while trying to decide if the ghost of his father is real or imagined. At one point earlier in the play he is unsure and suggests that “the spirit that I have seen/May be the devil, and the devil hath power/T’assume a pleasing shape. . .” (2.2.
The Fortinas subplot was removed from the BBC production starring David Tennant and I think this took away from the overall emotional impact of the film. The BBC production …show more content…
Through the use of flashbacks, it is made clear that Ophelia and Hamlet were lovers and had a sexual relationship. She not only lost her father to murder, but she has lost Hamlet’s love and most likely has no idea why. It seems that it is a deception on Hamlet’s part because he knows that he is being watched and so he casts her aside. The Branagh production looks deeper into Ophelia’s psyche and I understand this more easily that it is her emotional instability that leads to her madness. Kate Winslet plays the role of Ophelia very well and her screams are gut wrenching as she watches her father’s body being carried out of Elsinore castle. In this production, her madness is a concern and she is locked in a cell to keep her from harm. Unfortunately, she has stolen a key and is able to escape which leads to her accidental or suicidal …show more content…
Through Hamlet’s dialogue and actions there is a sense of building tension, disgust, and violence within him towards his mother and in both productions his violence erupts in act 3, scene 3, in which he speaks to Gertrude in her bedroom. Hamlet kills the hidden Polonius, at first thinking it is the King. After more dialogue with his mother, he is visited again by his father’s ghost. Hamlet does go through some turmoil while trying to decide if the ghost of his father is real or imagined. At one point earlier in the play he is unsure and suggests that “the spirit that I have seen/May be the devil, and the devil hath power/T’assume a pleasing shape. . .” (2.2.