Why Is Hamlet Suicidal
Surrounded by different scenery, each actor used distinct yet sometimes similar gestures as well as facial expressions and props to display their own interpretation on the soliloquy To be or not to be, crafted by William Shakespeare. Each actor, through his performance, was able to further reveal insight into the meaning behind each phrase and words placed in the text. While some actors played Hamlet as a suicidal man, others made him seem optimistic. Some even had the combination of the two. Although every actor was different in demeanor and voice, they all embodied Hamlets overarching confusion and outrage, staying true to the core of the text.
As each film progressed through each line in Hamlet, every actor took time to emphasize significant words, using blank verses occasionally to stress a point. Hamlet, when portrayed by Kenneth Branagh, highlighted the snippet, “To die, to sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream” (65-66), slowing down, almost seeming like he desired such events. Kenneth, tried to represent Hamlet as a person who is tired of life; through his tone he makes Hamlet seem suicidal. On the other hand, the actor, Laurence Olivier, when acting as Hamlet, emphasized on phrases like, “To be or not to be, that is the question” (57) as well as “Puzzles the will...” (81) to display his interpretation of him being a man who is confused in …show more content…
Even though most of their actions are not fully stated in the soliloquy, they attempted to show the meaning of each word and phrases stated through acting. Although most of them are different in several ways, they all embodied a complete understanding of who Hamlet was. Through each element of acting, Hamlet's attitude to his given situation, giving further insight not described in the
As each film progressed through each line in Hamlet, every actor took time to emphasize significant words, using blank verses occasionally to stress a point. Hamlet, when portrayed by Kenneth Branagh, highlighted the snippet, “To die, to sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream” (65-66), slowing down, almost seeming like he desired such events. Kenneth, tried to represent Hamlet as a person who is tired of life; through his tone he makes Hamlet seem suicidal. On the other hand, the actor, Laurence Olivier, when acting as Hamlet, emphasized on phrases like, “To be or not to be, that is the question” (57) as well as “Puzzles the will...” (81) to display his interpretation of him being a man who is confused in …show more content…
Even though most of their actions are not fully stated in the soliloquy, they attempted to show the meaning of each word and phrases stated through acting. Although most of them are different in several ways, they all embodied a complete understanding of who Hamlet was. Through each element of acting, Hamlet's attitude to his given situation, giving further insight not described in the