To Be or Not To Be Versions

            Hamlet’s soliloquy is possible that most famous scene of Hamlet. It is a scene when hamlet speaks about the hardship every human goes through. I have watched four clips from four different directors who depicted the scene in various different ways.

            The first version I will discuss is Oliver’s version. First of all the scene is set on cliff. This could also be symbolism for suicide because when people think of killing themselves they choose to jump off a cliff, bridge, etc. As hamlet speaks we get glimpses of the turbulent water as waves crash into the cliff. The crashing waves could also be symbolism for the mess he is in and the confusion he is feeling. The director also has extreme close ups of the actor’s forehead, possibly to show that the actor is thinking not speaking. Before he kills himself there a jolt in the music to show how abrupt his decision was. Overall the scene is semi calm, except for the water. At the end of the scene he just walks away which implies that he has still not made a decision.

            Unlike Oliver’s version, Zefferlli’s version, I believe, is much darker. the scene starts off with Hamlet, played by Mel Gibson, walks down to an underground cemetery. he slowly walks around as he speaks. He actually hugs a coffin when he speaks of “falling asleep”. He lies next to a coffin as he speaks of death.  I like that near the end of the scene; he looks up into the light.  When he looks up, I think he is trying to get an answer from heaven. He is looking for the answer as to why humans suffer through life when they could just end it all with a knife.

            I believe the most interesting of all the other ones I watch was the Branagh’s version. In this adaptation, we can see Hamlet speaking at a mirror. I though it was absolutely brilliant that the director thought of having Hamlet speak to a mirror. I say this because essentially he is speaking to himself. He is looking at his reflection as he is reflecting on his decision. He also walks slowly towards the mirror, which builds up the tension. The music also makes this scene very tense. 

            Last but not least in the Almereyda’s version, the modern version. in this version Hamlet is walking through the a Blockbuster store. the interesting part is that he is walking around the action section as he decides whether he should or shouldn’t take action. However, as he strolls around the section, he is completely indecisive of what movie to pick. In the background there is also an action movies playing.  The movie is called The Crow. The movie is about a man taking revenge. This could be foreshadowing the decision that Hamlet will take later in the movie.  Or it could just be representing the turmoil that is running around Hamlet’s head in that moment.

            All in all, all versions had their own way of depicting the scene. I found that the most creative portrayal was Branagh’s version because he is talking to his refection, not to the air like all the other versions. However, each scene had it own unique way of showing Hamlet’s struggle.