Visual Analysis Of Hamlet's Soliloquy

There were a multitude of renditions of Hamlet's soliloquy "To be or not to be" over the years, however the best video was performed by Laurence Olivier. It is the greatest because the setting, costume, and sound are the most optimal to depict the image that Shakespeare was aiming to display. The setting is perfect for this because Hamlet is contemplating whether or not to continue living, so choosing a setting at a high elevation lets him decide his fate most easily. The first line of the soliloquy is "To be, or not to be-- that is the question:", show his consideration of suicide. At the beginning of the video it shows a long winding staircase which eventually leads to where Hamlet is pondering about what he should do. This is an excellent location because he can choose to commit self-slaughter at any time, and he can prove to himself that he is …show more content…
Contrary to some of the other re-enactments this version has very ominous background music which builds up tension in the audience to anticipate what will happen. At the beginning of the video the intense music creates a exciting atmosphere to see what unfolds. This creates the optimal background for Hamlet's famous soliloquy, it is perfect because it establishes a premonition that something bad might happen in the following minutes. The diegetic sound is also favourable because it is the perfect mixture of background noise and dialogue. Moreover, this displays to the audience that the soliloquy is his deep inner contemplation about suicide and the inefficiency of the legal system. This creates the perfect mood and atmosphere to fully immerse the audience into Hamlet's mental dilemma. All in all, Olivier performs the best rendition because of the impeccable setting, costume and props as well as the flawless combination of diegetic and non-diegetic