Video Critique Act 1 Scene 3

In act one scene three of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the father Polonius, the son Laertes, and the daughter Ophelia are a family. Laertes plans to go back to Paris to pursue education in college. Ophelia at this point in the play is known to have a crush on Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. The play also reveals that Hamlet is in love with Ophelia. Watching act one scene three from a director’s point of view has several differences compared to the play. The director suggests that tone and angles of the camera portrays the meaning of the scene. After watching the video, I feel that the director made act one scene three well in comparison to the play of Hamlet because of the feeling the scene gives to the audience.

In the play, Hamlet and Ophelia admires one another. Laertes is Ophelia’s older brother who is leaving Denmark. Before he leaves, he talks with Ophelia in this scene about love and affection because of Hamlet. Hamlet seems to be a problem for Laertes because he does not want Ophelia to be hurt. In the beginning of the video, Laertes says, “Perhaps he loves you now, and now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will; but you must fear, his greatness weighed, his will is not his own, For he himself is subject to birth.” I feel that this beginning is clever with a forward tone of voice because it feels as if it’s a wakeup call for Ophelia. I feel that the director making Ophelia stare at the portrait of Hamlet in the beginning right before Laertes talk to her is also brilliant because it sets the subject. Laertes is obviously feeling that Hamlet is not the man Ophelia should fall for. Laertes is basically telling Ophelia that Hamlet does not have a choice to choose his own princess. It was fate at birth and fate at marriage because he is prince. The princess is chosen and agreed by the current king and queen so that the new princess can be in throne. Royalty is always at the top in the time period. The delivery of Laertes in this video gives a tone of sympathy and concern. Laertes shows his place by being a true brother to Ophelia. After finishing this quote, Ophelia rises up from her seat and walks towards the book shelf which gives a feeling of annoyance in Ophelia’s part. This most likely tells the audience that she’s a woman and can handle her own situations, but Laertes is looking after Ophelia. After Ophelia is standing at the book shelf, Laertes puts his head down to give a feel of disappointment because Ophelia seems like she’s refusing to listen. The director setting up this movement is a good idea because it makes the audience feel like they’re actually in the scene. The movements also give emotion and power of the relationship between the two. Ophelia sitting back down after this happens shows that she is listening at this point and is taking Laertes advice into consideration. Laertes then says, “Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain if with too credent ear you list his songs or lose your heart or your chaste treasure open to his unmastered opportunity. Fear it, Ophelia; fear it, my dear sister, and keep you in the rear of your affection, out of the shot and danger of desire. Be wary, then; best safety lies in fear. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.” Laertes also says this in the play. He tells Ophelia not to lose her honor, and her virginity which is her pride fortune. Laertes is telling Ophelia not to give herself away to Hamlet her most prize possession. Ophelia then says, “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, do not, as some ungracious pastors do, show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine, himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and recks not his own rede.” While Ophelia says this, she also nods at the same time meaning she understands what Laertes is saying. She also says thank you to her dear brother, and even though Laertes gives her this advice, he should follow his own advice. Ophelia at this point has an understanding of Laertes.

The setting of the white room seems perfect for the lighting of the room. White represents neutrality. The color sense of being neutral gives a feeling to the two characters, Laertes and Ophelia. I feel that the director choosing the white room for a setting fits the scene because even though they are brothers and sisters, they are both neutral meaning that they can decide on their instincts. The feeling of neutrality is like being in the middle of good and bad. It gives the audience a feel of curiosity, but being at a normal state because of the white room. The director gives the character of Laertes a blue shirt. The color blue represents calm feeling which blends in with the neutral room. Blue can also represent romance in this scene because of their bond being brother and sister. Laertes is lecturing Ophelia giving her a perspective of Hamlet. Ophelia is wearing red in this scene which also symbolizes love. It also symbolizes lust, but not anger. Ophelia having the color red sticks out to the video but blends in with the white room. As Ophelia is listening to Laertes, she seems to act confused at the same time which is brilliant in portraying the scene. Laertes and Ophelia both has an inside shirt which is also white.
The dominant inside color blends with the neutral room along with their given colors. The director also chooses to have a close up shot throughout most of the scene. This shot lets the audience see the characters facials expressions and have the feeling at the same time of the deliverance of the lines. Polonius entering in gray gives a dull feeling. Also entering in a suit makes him seem successful. The director choosing these two characteristics for Polonius seems appropriate for the scene. Also, at the same time when Polonius enter, the camera is faced towards the ceiling, which gives Polonius a superior feel because he’s on top, while the two characters are on the bottom. This action was also an appropriate choose for this scene.

Polonius entering, Laertes gives Ophelia a farewell kiss showing affection. I feel that the director overall did a well done job with act one scene three because it captures the most of the scene between Ophelia and Laertes. Comparing this video and with the scene in the play, I feel that the director portrays this scene throughout the characters and tone of feel dominantly. The director’s main goal is to make the audience feel what the scene is having, and I feel that he uses most of the right angles and shots for the characters in this scene. It was calm, not too flashy, not too fast, understandable for the scene, and gives emotion to the audience.