To Be Or Not To Be

             In Oliver’s version of the scene, Hamlet is looking over the ocean seeming helpless. He almost looks like he would jump off any second and end his existence due to his suffering. Hamlet asks himself whether he should continue living or whether he should die and his thoughts are dark and brooding has he speaks of them. The music in the background also sets a very depressing mood and makes the audience feel Hamlet’s vulnerability. Not only did this character look like he was contemplating on committing suicide any second, his stance on the subject slightly became more real when he took out a dagger. It almost felt like he had decided that ending his life was the way to proceed in that moment . Also when  he pulled out his dagger, the music in the background became stronger and it makes the audience anxious on what his next step would be. This version of the soliloquy delivers emotions like vulnerability, forlornness and desperation to get out of a situation that is suffocating.

            Zeffirelli’s version of the soliloquy, Hamlet played by Mel Gibson, is walking into his father’s tomb. As Hamlet walks into the tomb, he enters the darkness which hints on how his thoughts and emotions are at the moment. The way he carries himself throughout the scene also portrays his inner turmoil. There in no background music that makes the audience anxious this time around, but the setting itself is more affective than music. The tomb is dark but there is light shining through only on Hamlet’s father, and next to him Hamlet sits  and holding his palms together looking like he is praying. The Hamlet is more emotional in this version than the previous version and that is very complementing to the scene itself.

            Branagh’s version of the scene, the character is alone in a hall facing a large mirror. Hamlet walks up to the mirror slowly as the scene continues and his appears stoic. But he expresses his emotions through  his words  and as the scene carries on, Hamlet played by Branagh, seems like he is speaking more likely to himself while facing the mirror. This version of this scene is more like how I imagined the soliloquy would go. This is due to the character being Hamlet, who  is facing a life changing situation where one wrong step could end his existence. Therefore I believe it is important to ask yourself whether what you are doing is surely what you want to because it affects you and others surrounding you, too.

            Almereyda’s version consists of Hamlet looking and walking around a section of movies at a store. The background music and the televisions playing explosions hints us again on what Hamlet is experiencing. Almereyda’s take on this scene is slightly ironic because of the fact that Hamlet is walking in the aisles containing movies with action, which clearly he is not taking at the moment. He almost appears lost and weak as the soliloquy carries on and those are the two emotions that  the character, Hamlet,  in the last three versions portrayed, including some more stronger than others.

            In all the four versions of the soliloquy, Hamlet displayed his inner thoughts differently. The settings were also different which gave the audience different impressions. Though all four versions had their own way of expressing Hamlet’s contemplation, they all showed Hamlet’s frustration and vulnerability in the situation. One version that I prefer over the others is Branagh’s version of the scene which really connected with what  I was thinking. As mentioned before, I believe that the way this actor portrayed the character’s emotions while appearing like he was talking to himself was, in my opinion, very affective than most of the others. The other soliloquy that came very close to my attention was Zeffirelli’s version. The setting was a major factor and also the emotional acting of Gibson which made me feel anxious.

I think that there are so many versions of this play because this scene in particular, touches on the desperations that people have felt for different causes. Which lead them at some point to decide whether living and suffocating is the right choice  or dying and putting an end to their suffering is the better one. Therefore, I believe this soliloquy will always be intriguing to others through its universal question : To Be Or Not To Be.