The scene I want to focus on is when Hamlet and Gertrude are having their "private" conversation in Gertrude's bedroom. In this play, Hamlet takes out his sword and looks like he is about to murder Gertrude, leading her to yell for help and Polonius to be slain. This contrasts with the reading where I was confused as to why Gertrude feels the need to cry out for help only because of Hamlet's words--there is no indication that he ever draws his sword.
This scene is just one example of the fact that the play seemed to cast Hamlet as a more passive-aggressive and violent character than I assumed from reading. Another similar example is when Hamlet throws both Francisco and Horatio off of him in a burst of adrenaline (in order to follow the ghost) whereas in the reading I just assumed that he convinced them with his words.
(Not that this particular Horatio would be hard to throw)
I don't think that this change in character is necessarily good or bad, but it simply changes the way that we interpret later occurrences of the play. As Hamlet stabs Polonius or defeats Laertes in the duel, it seems less surprising because this Hamlet is cast as less of a book-worm introvert and more someone capable of bloody-acts.
I love your comment about the LBSC version of Hamlet being an interpretation.
ReplyDeleteI do wish that you had gone more in depth with your analysis of the Hamlet/Gertrude scene. I would have loved some textual reference or a deeper analysis about the implications this has for the play because it is very important, and something I didn't even notice!
I didn't get to see the play, but I dig the idea of Hamlet as more aggressive in tone and action than we think he is from reading. Maybe that's just a product of seeing what he says/does performed?
ReplyDeleteI definitely noticed a more violent Hamlet throughout than we initially imagine: he kills Polonius without concern, and does not just seem mad, but threatening to Ophelia and Gertrude. I think that specific scene you talked about is interesting in the context of what Hamlet says before talking to Gertrude: "I will speak daggers to her, but use none." In this play, he did draw a literal dagger.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore your argument! I laughed out loud (sorry, roommate) at the Horatio bit..."Not that this particular Horatio would be hard to throw."
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