Hamlet Tonal Analysis
One of the most well know of all literary works, Shakespeare's Hamlet has been interpreted in any and all ways imaginable. One way the play has been presented is through the use of film. The audiovisual appeal of film gives a new edge to play. Much of what defines a movie are the tones a director uses in any given scene. The most recent portrayal of Hamlet is directed by Michael Almereyda and stars Ethan Hawke as Prince Hamlet. This interpretation is unique because it is set in the year 2000, and instead of Denmark being a state it is a corporation fighting for financial superiority. The setting creates some fantastic situations for tonal analysis, or analysis of how a particular situation is perceived by the senses of the audience. One particular scene that appeals the senses is the scene in which Hamlet presents his play, or as in the movie, his film, called Mousetrap. Although the scene as a whole is very serious, the first part of it shows Hamlet preparing for the showing of his film by putting on his sunglasses out of view of his audience. By putting on sunglasses Hamlet is able to give his audience the impression that he is cool and calm, when in reality he is anxious to see his uncle's reaction to th
Before the film begins the scene cuts to a picture of the projector being used to show Hamlet's film. At the end of the sequence we are left with a shot of the young boy from earlier conspicuously looking into a room. This shot is used to illustrate the probable relationship between Gertrude and Claudius before King Hamlet's death. The fact that the flower died quickly shows that it's death was not natural, just like King Hamlet's death. Later during the death scene the music is eerily fast paced and played in very high notes. This music is used to show the horrible spectacle of the murder of a king. The flower is used to show the blossoming relationship between a father and son and the natural progression of nature. The director does a fabulous job with this particular part of the scene. Before the poison sequence in Mousetrap there is a shot of an absurdly graphic sex scene. During the numerous death scenes the audience gets a quick glance at a shot of an elephant dying. The majority of the scene is dominated by Hamlet's film Mousetrap. The film then cuts to a rotating globe showing that the father wishes to give his son the world, or in Hamlet's case, wants to name his son heir to the throne. The following scenes show that relationship developing giving the audience a warm, cuddly sensation. This shot shows that Hamlet knows what Claudius had done. He jokes with Ophelia, while joking his mother laughs in the background showing the viewer that his true intentions are unnoticeable, and just by the way Hamlet sits in his chair he is able to give off that "cool" vibe he was going for with the sunglasses.
Common topics in this essay:
Prince Hamlet,
Claudius Music,
King Hamlet's,
Shakespeare's Hamlet,
Queen Gertrude,
Towards Hamlet's,
Michael Almereyda,
King Denmark,
King Hamlet,
hamlet's film,
Analysis Essay,
tonal analysis,
king hamlet's death,
particular scene,
putting sunglasses,
film mousetrap,
michael almereyda,
scene music,
actual film,
senses audience,
tone scene,
|
Acceptance Essays
