EQ: How do different adaptations of Hamlet emphasize different themes? In Gregory Doran’s production of Hamlet, his use of cuts and staging portray a gendered hierarchy and categorize Hamlet’s “transformation” as serious and surprising.
In Act 2 scene 2 of Doran’s adaptation, during the conversation between the king, the queen, and Polonius about why Hamlet has suddenly gone crazy, Ophelia is present. In our version of the novel, Ophelia is absent from the conversation and Polonius talks about what she will do, as if he can control her. But by including her in the discussion, Doran portrays her as empowered because she is informed about what is expected of her, and she is hypothetically able to speak up for herself. Yet, she is not fully …show more content…
Doran might have had to make this major cut because of time restraints, but without the rest of the second scene in Act 2, the audience lacks insight into Hamlet’s revenge plan. Without the conversation between Hamlet and Polonius, the audience doesn’t see Hamlet’s playacting. Doran might have chosen to cut this to make the adaptation appear more realistic, but I think the scene should be included to show Hamlet’s dedication to his revenge plot. Doran’s production also cuts the interaction with Hamlet, Polonius, and the players. Shakespeare included this part of the scene to show Hamlet’s changing plan, and the players help to foreshadow and allude to Claudius’s eventual demise. Without this part of the scene, the audience is unaware of Hamlet’s internal conflict surrounding his decision about how he should avenge his father’s murder. However, Doran might have made these significant cuts to emphasize the fact that Hamlet hides his internal conflict, and without all of the other small conversations, Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy might appear to be more powerful and impactful than the text
In Act 2 scene 2 of Doran’s adaptation, during the conversation between the king, the queen, and Polonius about why Hamlet has suddenly gone crazy, Ophelia is present. In our version of the novel, Ophelia is absent from the conversation and Polonius talks about what she will do, as if he can control her. But by including her in the discussion, Doran portrays her as empowered because she is informed about what is expected of her, and she is hypothetically able to speak up for herself. Yet, she is not fully …show more content…
Doran might have had to make this major cut because of time restraints, but without the rest of the second scene in Act 2, the audience lacks insight into Hamlet’s revenge plan. Without the conversation between Hamlet and Polonius, the audience doesn’t see Hamlet’s playacting. Doran might have chosen to cut this to make the adaptation appear more realistic, but I think the scene should be included to show Hamlet’s dedication to his revenge plot. Doran’s production also cuts the interaction with Hamlet, Polonius, and the players. Shakespeare included this part of the scene to show Hamlet’s changing plan, and the players help to foreshadow and allude to Claudius’s eventual demise. Without this part of the scene, the audience is unaware of Hamlet’s internal conflict surrounding his decision about how he should avenge his father’s murder. However, Doran might have made these significant cuts to emphasize the fact that Hamlet hides his internal conflict, and without all of the other small conversations, Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy might appear to be more powerful and impactful than the text