With all successful books and plays, there eventually comes a movie adaptation. Such movies can never represent the text exactly, but some do more justice to the original work than others. For plays as influential and complex as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, there exists a wide and varied selection of movies that attempt to interpret the ambiguities of the play. Two very well-known screen adaptations have Ethan Hawke and Mel Gibson, respectively, playing the lead role of Hamlet. As staying true to the play is a critical point in making these movies, the interpretation the two directors took on Gertrude and Claudius’ relationship and Hamlet’s sexuality ultimately affected Hamlet’s mental state. The examination of Gertrude’s knowledge (or lack thereof)
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Some argue that his relationship with his mother is a little too affectionate, while others persist that he is a latent homosexual. In Gibson’s version, Gertrude exhibits more knowledge of the king’s murder, therefore she distances herself from the murderous Claudius. In doing this, she redirects her affection towards her son. This movies has many more kisses between Gertrude and Hamlet than in the modernized Hawke version and Shakespeare’s original play. She displays on multiple occasions a little too much affection towards her son than traditional maternal love. Later on in the movie, Hamlet even dry humps his mother. In contrast, Ethan Hawke’s embodiment of Hamlet exudes more of a latent homosexual vibe. The movie starts with him ditching Ophelia after planning a date. Also, his interactions with Horatio suggest a yearning for a relationship that is more than friends. When visiting Horatio’s apartment, Hamlet appears hurt when he witnesses Horatio kissing his girlfriend. This Hamlet does not obsess over the female sexuality as much as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He never makes the crude jokes about Fortune’s private parts. Once he dies at a fencing match, he reaches for Horatio, of all people, to be the last face he sees. Hamlet’s homosexual tendencies in Ethan Hawke’s movie resonate from his feelings of rejection from the female gender, since he views his mother looseness as a betrayal. Deriving from both his sexual preferences and his relationship with his mother, Hamlet’s world view shows as madness or pretending to be
Some argue that his relationship with his mother is a little too affectionate, while others persist that he is a latent homosexual. In Gibson’s version, Gertrude exhibits more knowledge of the king’s murder, therefore she distances herself from the murderous Claudius. In doing this, she redirects her affection towards her son. This movies has many more kisses between Gertrude and Hamlet than in the modernized Hawke version and Shakespeare’s original play. She displays on multiple occasions a little too much affection towards her son than traditional maternal love. Later on in the movie, Hamlet even dry humps his mother. In contrast, Ethan Hawke’s embodiment of Hamlet exudes more of a latent homosexual vibe. The movie starts with him ditching Ophelia after planning a date. Also, his interactions with Horatio suggest a yearning for a relationship that is more than friends. When visiting Horatio’s apartment, Hamlet appears hurt when he witnesses Horatio kissing his girlfriend. This Hamlet does not obsess over the female sexuality as much as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He never makes the crude jokes about Fortune’s private parts. Once he dies at a fencing match, he reaches for Horatio, of all people, to be the last face he sees. Hamlet’s homosexual tendencies in Ethan Hawke’s movie resonate from his feelings of rejection from the female gender, since he views his mother looseness as a betrayal. Deriving from both his sexual preferences and his relationship with his mother, Hamlet’s world view shows as madness or pretending to be