Hamlet Soliloquy Video Critique

John Nguyen

In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, act three scene one carries one of the most famous soliloquys in all of literature. In my opinion, out of the three videos, I think that this video is the best interpretation for the scene because the setting and video in general is straight forward. The director is suggesting that Hamlet has a conflict between himself through the use of setting and tone. The second video with Alexander Fodor was too plain and dull in my opinion. The white scene expresses nuetrality greatly, but the setting was quite confusing. I also didn’t understand why he had to record this soliloquy, but also having the camera mainly focus in his eye wasn’t too brilliant because it doesn’t express emotion. I feel that this scene didn’t make the audience feel what Hamlet is feeling. The third video with Laurence Olivier seems to old compare to modern day today. I wouldn’t think it would be eye catching to people, and the sounds of the winds in this video makes it harder to hear him acting out the soliloquy.

In the beginning of the soliloquy, I feel that the start of the setting was done well, because its colors of the room is mainly black and white, but shows royalty, which fits Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. Hamlet giving the soliloquy to the mirror is well done because it gives the audience an understanding of the character conflict. The conflict being shown is protagonist versus self because Hamlet is basically speaking to himself in this scene questioning about death. The use of the mirror is also a brilliant idea because it gives the audience a straight forward answer of Hamlet having a conflict within himself while speaking the soliloquy. Hamlet says, “To die, to sleep—no more—and by sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh us heir to— ‘tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.” This quote shows how Hamlet is debating with himself about fate because of death. Hamlet speaks about it and questions to himself, which gives the audience a feel of Hamlet’s situation. This soliloquy is important in the play because it is referring to his uncle. This soliloquy also gives significance whether or not Hamlet is going to avenge his father, because of his wicked brother murdering his father in his sleep. The black and white in this scene is not too overwhelming, which makes it not distraction for the audience to notice. Having done this, the audiences will most likely keep their attention on Hamlet, which will give a deeper meaning to the soliloquy.

In this video, while the actor is having the soliloquy, there is a type of horror music in the background that is not too low or high while the actor is talking. Having the music too high makes the music overwhelming while the character is speaking. Having the music too low will most likely make the music useless because the audience will most likely not hear it. This is almost as important as the soliloquy because it gives the audience a sense of prediction. Listening to the low music gives somewhat of a horror feel. The director choosing this music to play as the soliloquy is going on is a well done action for the video because it makes the audience feel what Hamlet is feeling. Hamlet at this point is pondering about himself and his fate, which is close to confusion and determination. Hamlet feels that his uncle is a traitor at this point, which should most likely have the audience on Hamlet’s side also because the murder of a brother should have consequences. In general, killing a family member, and killing a person in general is not right in the ways of the world perspective. Hamlet’s uncle killing his father shows greediness and a person who is cold hearted because he murdered his own brother to take throne in royalty. The music and theme in this video gives the audience a sense of tone and mood to feel as if the audience were in Hamlet’s position.

As Hamlet goes on with this soliloquy, he says, “With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life, but that dread of something after death, the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns, puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” towards the mirror. While looking at the mirror, the director most likely had this setting planned out which I thought was perfect for this scene because the mirror is the main focus that’s straight forward. Hamlet speaks to himself while looking at the mirror and as he draws his dagger out when saying, “With a bare bodkin?” towards the mirror, it startles the two people behind the mirror who are basically spying on Hamlet to see his conditions. In a split second, the director decides to show one of the character who is behind the mirror reaction. Scaring the two people behind the mirror was definitely a good idea because the audience knows how they feel towards Hamlet, and at the same time, it makes Hamlet’s character look somewhat like a lunatic. This mirror seems as if it’s a reflection on one side, and on the other side it’s see through. This part makes Hamlet dominant because he pulls out the dagger. Pulling out the dagger gives a feel of power and violence. The dagger also shows a sign of death and basically gives the audience a kind of prediction of Hamlet.

Overall, Hamlet delivers the line while whispering towards the mirror. This action from the director is well done because it tells the audience he doesn’t have to speak so loud because no one is around. This soliloquy is important to the play because it gives one of the main point of Hamlet’s perspectives. It makes the audience ponder about what’s going to happen next. Hamlet is speaking clearly and gently, but at the same time it makes him seem as if he’s crazy because of the dagger. In my opinion the directors decision of this video for act three scene one was a well done job because it gave me a better understanding of the soliloquy after watching it repetitively. The main point is to show how Hamlet is reacting at this point in the play. I feel that the director using the camera to focus on the mirror reflection of Hamlet was a good angle to shoot the scene because it basically shows a character versus oneself conflict situation.