Hamlet -Thinking activity .

How faithful is the movie to the original play?
       
Movie is quite faithful to the play, because it has followed the text well, but it has also "a creative  touch"  by the director, and in scenes like the conversation between ghost and Hamlet, Hamlet's rude behavior  towards Ophelia, we can notice it is very well directed and performed, it can express emotions as well as by imagination while reading.


After watching the movie, have your perception about play, characters or situations changed?

At some point it has changed my perception about the play. While reading we can imagine the different kind of situations and scenes of the play, but after watching the movie we come to know about how the dialogues were delivered, and after observing  the expressions, we conclude the interpretation more effectively.  It has given a perfect support to the play to get proper meaning.

Do you feel ‘aesthetic delight’ while watching the movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons?

Yes,this is tragic play, though I felt 'aesthetic delight' while i have watched some comic scenes of Hamlet and when there is a scene of Ophelia and Hamlet when they were happy, we can also feel delight when Hamlet recalls his memories with his father. Aesthetic delight can be found in tragic scene also, when Hamlet saw the ghost of his father and had a talk with him.

Do you feel ‘catharsis’ while or after watching movie? If yes, exactly when did it happen? If no, can you explain with reasons?

Yes, I felt 'catharsis' in such scenes like:  when Hamlet come to know about his father's murder by  his uncle and mother, when Hamlet is frustrated and he behaves cruelly with Ophelia, In the scene in which Ophelia had gone mad and his brother came, when Hamlet dies.

Does screening of movie help you in better understanding of the play?

Yes it is very much useful to get the play properly and in right way. At one point it can power up our imagination to get the setting, situations and the mind set of character by his expression.  Audio visuals can effect more than 'Only reading', as we can remember easily what we have seen than what we have read.

Was there any particular scene or moment in the movie that you will cherish lifetime?

There are many scenes in the play which are very beautifully directed, but the scene in which Hamlet follows the ghost and the whole conversation is beautifully directed, there is various emotions mingled together, there is delight, terror, revenge, shock and the feeling of hatred in the eyes of Hamlet, and the expression of the ghost and his effective voice, his tone is so effective.

If you are director, what changes would you like to make in the remaking of movie on Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’?

I feel that there is no need any changes in movie. Because movie is wonderfully presented by Kenneth Branagh. Movie is also faithful to play so I feel that there is no need any changes.

In the beginning of the movie, camera rolls over the statue of King Hamlet out side the Elsinore castle. The movie ends with the similar sequence wherein the statue of the King Hamlet is hammered down to the dust. What sort of symbolism do you read in this?

Symbolism is one of the narrative technique. Director use very well this technique in his movie. The first and the last scene of the kings statue outside the castle symbolizes the ' circle of life'. Power never remains stagnant. It keeps on changing. Downfall is necessary to know the real value of power.

While studying the play through movie, which approach do you find more applicable to the play? Why? Give reasons with illustrations.

We can observe many approaches in one on the other way. I feel that psychological and formalist approach is more applicable. In such scenes of play Hamlet is with his mother and when he is going to take such decision towards his revenge with Claudius, many times he finds himself helpless. In formalist approach, all about trapping each other.

Which of the above mentioned approaches (in Pre-viewing task) appeals you more than other?Why? Give reasons.

In the play, formalist approach is appeals me more than any other approach. There is vast difference between "seeming" and "being" in all the major characters like Hamlet, Claudius and Gertrude. All are pretend as they are right and good but all has some kind of devilish intention. There is a question of " knowability" of characters in play.