Hamlet Dumb Show Analysis

Scene #1 - 3.2.85-140 This scene is, overall, fairly meta. In the original play, the dumb show is simply a “play within a play”, but in this adaptation, Hamlet is actually shown filming the play with a video camera, which is not only one of the few elements in the scene that indicates that it has a modern-day setting but also sort of makes the scene a “movie within a movie adaptation” at some points. In addition to this, after Hamlet turns down the Queen’s request to “sit by [her]”, Polonius appears to look directly into the camera while saying “oho, do you mark that?” (3.2.101-104) This establishes the idea that he is asking the audience this question, instead of asking the King, as the stage directions indicate. Many of Hamlet’s actions …show more content…
This adaptation of Hamlet stages the dumb show in a rather odd way that seems fairly out of place in a modern-day context. For example, although it would have been customary to cast a male actor in female roles when the play was first produced, having a man play the role of the queen in the dumb show was extremely strange in this present-day context. In addition to this, having a black actor play the “poisoner” comes off as somewhat racist and stereotypical - especially since the “gifts” that the poisoner uses to “woo” the queen are interpreted in a sexual manner. (65) Overall, the exaggerated, mocking tone of the dumb show makes it generally difficult to watch at some points. This may have been meant to convey the way Hamlet wanted the king to view the play, and to elicit a similar response from the …show more content…
His anger calms somewhat, although the scene remains fairly intense. When Gertrude essentially promises not to reveal what Hamlet has said, he suddenly “breaks down,” embraces her, and begins to weep. This motion is startling, and after a moment, Gertrude starts to cry as well. Since this is one of the few scenes where she demonstrates some sort of depth, this seems to be a sort of redemption for her - in general, she appears to regret her actions and the effect they have had on Hamlet. Hamlet’s monologue at the end of the scene is somewhat venomous and calculating at the same time - he seems to revert back to the outlandishly “mad” persona again - however, the scene ends on a fairly comical note as he drags Polonius’s corpse out of the room and yells “good night, Mother” in the jovial tone he had used to (rather obnoxiously) greet