ipl-logo

Mel Gibson's Soliloquy Comparison

819 Words4 Pages

In the words of Hamlet, "To be or not to be, that is the question." The ever so popular soliloquy "To be or not to be" has been performed by many versatile actors, on set and on screen. Majority of our society believes that the soliloquy is simply Hamlet contemplating life or death. However, most have just heard about the solilquy and/or have read the soliliquy and did not completely analyze it. The soliloquy can also very well be Hamlet contemplating whether or not to be great and act, or not to be great and not act, and not just in the case of suicide. Mel Gibson's performance and Kenneth Branaugh's performance give very different takes on the meaning of the soliliquy through their delivery, and ones interpetation. Mel Gibson's version …show more content…

His performance also becomes more dramatic due to the setting being in what looks to be a mausoleum. In addition to the setting and his body language making the performance more dramatic, the dim lit setting and the way the camera flips from Gibson distraught and indecisive looking face to the skeletons and tombs around him makes it more emotional. The look on Gibson's face makes the performance exceedingly more emotioal due to the way he seems to be giving what he is saying a lot of thought and as the camera focuses in on his face his eyes give off a distraught and depressing look, which leads to why the performances s a also depressing. The scene is depressing because not only is Gibson projecting a depressing mood but the way he delivers the lines so slow,dreadful and lifeless makes the audience feel sorry for him. Therefore, Gibson's dramatic, emotional, and depressing performance of the To be or not to be soliliquy really makes the audience feel as though he is contemplating …show more content…

The scene is also intense due to the audience being aware that Hamlet is speaking into a two way mirror in which there are to other characters watching him as he performs the soliliquy, which then leaves the audience wondering if Hamlet has any idea that he is being watched. If Hamlet does indeed know that he is beining watched does that knowledge contribute to the aggressiveness in his delivery that makes it seem as though he is trying to make up his mind on whether or not he wants to act and be great or not be great. In otherwords, Hamlet is trying to decide if he wants to put his human greatness out in front and act on the way he is feeling or leave his human greatness behind in the form of weakness and not act. The performance becomes nerve wrecking and raises anxiety when Hamlet whips out his weapon as he gives the speach even more aggressively and sends the whole speech into a more threatening direction. This is why Branaugh's performance of the to be or not to be soliliquy delivers a more intense, nerve wrecking and anxiety raising performance and makes the audience believe he is trying decide whether or not to be

Show More
Related

  • Who Is Hecuba's Grief Throughout The Play

    111 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hamlet feels inadequate and frustrated with his own lack of action. The Player is able to generate and convey passion and emotion in his speech about Hecuba's grief over the death of Priam, yet this situation is not a real one; the Player is just acting. Hamlet, on the other hand, has real cause to feel grief and to act, yet he has done nothing. He asks what would the Player do "Had he the motive and the cue for passion/That I have?" So he questions himself: "Am I a coward?"

    Read More

  • Hamlet Suicide Dbq

    995 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hamlet sparks an internal philosophical debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence and whether it is nobler to live miserably or to end one's sorrow with a single stroke. Hamlet is in a state of madness that leads him to question get suicide, comparing it to a peaceful sleep. Through Hamlet's internal struggle with suicide his conscience guides him to live. Hamlet is contemplating suicide because he is going mad over the truth of his father's death, and his mother remarrying so quickly. ” Hamlet is suffering” due to the loss of his dear father “and he wants his anguish and strong passion abundantly evident to the audience”(Source1,Point3).

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Kenneth Branagh's To Be Or Not To Be

    231 Words  | 1 Pages

    The best portrayal of Hamlet’s “To Be, Or Not To Be” soliloquy is the Kenneth Branagh interpretation of the scene because, in my opinion, Branagh does the best to demonstrate Hamlet’s feelings of madness through his tone and body language. Even though Branagh’s speech is quite slow, and in my opinion too slow, the speed at which he is speaking allows him to place more emphasis on the topics that drive Hamlet insane, such as “Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay…” The slow listings of these flaws Hamlet sees in today’s world places emphasis on each and every one, as well as an emphasis on the total flaws themselves. Branagh also does an excellent job of demonstrating Hamlet’s madness

    Read More

  • Grief In Hamlet's Grief

    1071 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet struggles to cope with his late father’s death and his mother’s quick marriage. In Act 1, Scene 2, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, and Hamlet are all introduced. Hamlet has just finished publicly speaking with his mom and the new king, and after he is interrupted by his good friend Horatio, who reveal the secret about King Hamlet’s ghost. Hamlet’s soliloquy is particularly crucial because it serves as his initial characterization, revealing the causes of his anguish. Hamlet’s grief is apparent to the audience, as he begins lamenting about the uselessness of life.

    Read More

  • Ethos Pathos And Logos In Hamlet's Soliloquy

    1765 Words  | 8 Pages

    When applied correctly, soliloquies successfully allow the reader to experience characters in their most vulnerable state: within their own minds. Hamlet is no exception to this principle, as Shakespeare’s mastery of rhetoric in establishing the main character’s inner conflict provides depth and rawness to his complex character. In this well-known soliloquy, Shakespeare employs logos to acknowledge that death can be both a relief and nightmare due to natural human emotions; accordingly, Hamlet personifies a severe case of teenage depression by simultaneously wishing for an end to suffering yet remaining hesitant to act on his own thoughts due to his fear of the unknown.         Throughout this passage, Hamlet attempts to rationalize ending his life over continuing to endure the painful reality of his existence. The parallelism in this particular soliloquy serves several rhetorical purposes, including the development of an implicit contrast between Hamlet’s mental state and the actual organization of his thoughts.

    Read More

  • Finding The Gold Within Film Analysis

    522 Words  | 3 Pages

    During his emotional moment, the camera was directed at his face and the audience was able to see witness the true feelings that the young man had towards his life. Although exposing a person’s emotional breakdown on film is questionable and controversial, the scene had a powerful impact on the film and the audience was able to understand the frustrations of the young

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of Robert May's A Voice From Richmond

    769 Words  | 4 Pages

    (May, 24). He states that a play practically brain washes the audience, and because of this, they remain unable to think for themselves to discuss or reflect upon the

    Read More

  • Figurative Language In Hamlet's Soliloquy

    741 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Act 2, Scene 2, a theatrical troupe arrives at the castle to perform a speech from Aeneid. Impressed with the player’s performance, Hamlet asks that the player act out a short speech he has written for the next day. Once alone, Hamlet undergoes an introspection that sheds light to his cowardly disposition. The soliloquy is divided into three sections: problem, cause, and resolution. Through his initial self-condemnation for being passive, Hamlet realizes the essence of his internal struggle and devises a plan to take action without having to go against his true nature.

    Read More

  • Comparing Hamlet And Branagh's Speech

    550 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Branagh’s version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the ‘To be, or not to be’ speech is interpreted differently than other actors’. Branagh’s character, Hamlet, knows he is being watched by Claudius and Polonius. His disclosure about not committing suicide for fear of the afterlife is part of his plan to keep Claudius at bay until he can convince himself that Claudius is the assassin and find a way to get revenge. The set of this scene includes mirrors and mirrored doors but it is difficult to tell them apart. These are used very intriguingly by Branagh.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Kenneth Branagh's To Be Or Not To Be

    431 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kenneth Branagh’s “To be or not to be” speech most effectively displays Hamlet’s deep philosophical ponderings by emphasizing Hamlet’s image and the contemplative nature of his thoughts. In Branagh’s version of the speech, Hamlet stands in front of a mirror, slowly approaching as the camera zooms into his face. This imagery focuses attention on Hamlet himself, emphasizing the reflective nature of his musing through the mirror, which serves as both a visual tool and a symbol. In the scene, Hamlet wears black, bringing attention to him rather that his clothing. When Hamlet unsheaths his bodkin, he points it at the mirror rather than himself, maintaining the idea of the contemplation of suicide, but emphasizing that his thoughts do not exceed

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Coach Carter

    494 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the movie some parts appeal to emotion or pathos. Some parts show fear like when coach is giving them talks, and the forfeit of games. Some show about having pride and doing good. It even shows emotion when the student athletes gain confidence in themselves. Makes you feel that way.

    Read More

  • John Berger's 'Ev' Ry Time We Say Goodbye

    1624 Words  | 7 Pages

    I have always viewed movies as mood boosters. Whenever I watch a movie, I judge how good it is according to how well I understand the story. This is why I never truly understand how critics rate movies. However, upon reading John Berger’s “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”, I start to understand how paying attention to the different components of a film helps in understanding the essence of a story. As Berger once said, “There is no film that does not partake of dream.

    Read More

  • The Affects Of Hamlet's Perspective On Life

    402 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet’s perspective causes him to stall and make excuses as to why he should wait to kill Claudius such as waiting till Claudius has sin, in order to ensure that he wouldn’t go to heaven. His perspective on life through his soliloquy “to be or not to be” allows us as readers to interpret to the development of Hamlet’s character. It reveals his inner thoughts and adds more quality to the play. In this soliloquy, Hamlet is contemplating suicide, but is haunted by the unknowns of the

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Tragic Flaw Analysis

    810 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hamlet’s hesitant nature is well presented in the play. For one, Hamlet cannot bring forth the strength to end his own life; his indecision of whether or not to commit suicide plagues him for more than half the play.

    Read More

  • The Morality Of Suicide In Shakespears's Hamlet

    1198 Words  | 5 Pages

    As it shows in the “To be, or not to be” soliloquy (III.i.56–88), it is the most famous soliloquy among others. It is said to be the most powerful and logical examination of the moral legitimacy of suicide as it touches on not only the suicide theme but also other several themes in Hamlet. “To be, or not to be” simply means to live or not to live as Hamlet is talking about the concept of living and dying. He wonders that is it nobler to choose to suffer during life rather than commiting suicide. Hamlet continues to give use his logic mind by comparing death to sleep and thinks of the stop to the suffer and pain and to the uncertainty it might show up, “the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks /

    Read More

More about Mel Gibson's Soliloquy Comparison

Open Document