Hamlet Final Discussion Post

    Hamlet has been an awesome experience to read through with the class. The play itself was very interesting at some parts and rather slow in others. There were parts in some of the acts where I felt bored of the  conversations to and from characters, like a monotonous clock swinging back and forth. Other times in the play, such as Hamlet and Laertes's sword fight, I was kept on my toes, eager to find out what happened next in the story. I especially enjoyed the wit used by characters such as Hamlet and the gravediggers, it kept me guessing and It was refreshing to try and decipher some of the language used by characters with wise remarks.

      I have a different feeling of Shakespeare after the play. I loved how he used character foils to contrast the personalities and intentions of characters within the play, it helped me better relate to the characters. His use of the soliloquies also gave me a great view into the complex mind of Hamlet. Overall I enjoyed the story, some scenes were dryer than other, but the story kept moving, and scenes of suspense and action such as Ophelia's insanity and Laertes's vengeful plans against Hamlet kept me concentrated on what would happen next.

     Watching the play instead of just reading it in class helped me so much in understanding the acts. Personally, I am a more visual learner so the movie we watched was just what the doctor ordered. Without the movie I am sure I would have less than half the understanding that I do now. The movie helped me picture the events in my mind and more importantly it better helped me understand the character's actions and emotions throughout the book. I thought the movie was a great interpretation of the play and greatly helped me gain a deeper understanding of Hamlet.

     The projects at the end of the acts were tiresome at times, like the Playbill which i'm honestly not looking forward to doing. Other projects such as the twitter project I enjoyed greatly, it was fun and a very enjoyable way to learn through Hamlet. The blogs are also a good tool for going through the book, and although I hate posting and commenting I know deep inside that the blogs also helped me very much. Thank you Ms. Watkins for being considerate enough to let us use fun projects and tools to help us understand the story, it meant alot to me, and to our class.

P.S. Thank you for letting me find my missing pants in the 4th floor gym. Formal Wednsdays is saved.

P.S.S. Thanks for those fresh pretzels, I would have starved without them

P.S.S.S. Thanks for letting the boy-band stick around and keeping class fun

P.S.S.S.S. If there really was a PSSSS I'm happy you would have read it

Hamlet Act 3 Discussion Post

  
     The soliloquies found on Shakespeare's play Hamlet have many functions throughout the story. In Act 3 Scene 1 comes one of Hamlet's most famous soliloquies, which starts with the famous words "to be or not to be". This soliloquy holds utmost significance as here, Hamlet ponders his existence and whether he should die to avoid his present problem, or live to fight through it. This speech allows readers the insight into Hamlet's innermost thoughts, that would previously not be conveyed unless he had spoken them aloud. Hamlet's soliloquies transport the reader into a world within the character, making it much easier to relate to the character's situation.

     In this speech, for example, Hamlet ponders death because he is deeply burdened and deeply grieved by his father's unknown death and his mother's rash actions into a quick remarriage. Faced with the huge decision to end his life in order to escape the horrible truth and regretful situation, in the soliloquy Hamlet speaks aloud, his most personal thoughts of life and death. Without the soliloquy, readers could not be able to fully comprehend the vast complexities within the mind of a character, the personal struggle between the conscience and soul, and also the decisions that define the character and change him throughout the play.

     Hamlet presses on and asks if it is more honorable to take every hit with every stone thrown at him in this dreadful situation, or end the situation as it is. This speech conveys the clash between Hamlet's conscience, wanted to pull through a rather difficult situation, and his will, to end the situation and lay peacefully in death. The soliloquy allows us to relate to Hamlet, looking back at whatever our difficult situations were in life. This allows readers to better understand the story by making personal connections once the thoughts of the character are revealed. The soliloquy bridges the gap between the actions portrayed in the story, and the true thoughts and intentions not portrayed, only able to be seen in the dark light of a soliloquy.

     Why carry such a heavy burden if you could easily let it go? Hamlet ponders the question in this speech even hoping for an afterlife to ease his pain and suffering that his father's cruel death has brought upon him. Through Hamlet's actions in the play, suicide would be covered by his insanity and wit, but in a soliloquy the intentions of a character are shed in a different light. Here, and only here, are the deepest emotions and intentions revealed, uncovered as Hamlet speaks alone. The reader gets an experience like no other as the character's evolution throughout the story is also demonstrated with each soliloquy.

     The soliloquies in this play play an important part in characterization and also keeping the reader interested in the character. Through it we can see the things uncovered, reveal the unrevealable, and even for a moment glance into the mind and heart of a character like never before.

Hamlet Act 2 Discussion Question

Dear Ophelia,

Ay girl, I've been missing you all day. I can't wait until tmmrw, when I have another chance to see my girl. You've been running through my mind all day lol. I don't care what anyone says about you and I, even your father can't stop our love. I will love you a&f, I promise, only if you stay by my side. I know there have been times we've fought, and there have been things you've done that leave me smh. But I won't forget the times we've rofl'd and those nights where I dreamed of seeing you again. You are the only thing keeping me upright, and I need you in my life now and forev. I don't can about w/e stands in our way, I don't know what I would do without your <3. I'd probably go insane. Just stay with me girl and I promise we will come out safe on the other side. Every hour without you feels like years passing by, and when you leave it feels like half of me just walked away</3. I need you now more than ever! Nothing should be able to tear apart our love, not even your family. I'll ttyl sweetie, remember ILY

Love,
          Hamster xoxo :*

Hamlet Act 1 Discussion Question

     There she was, once again she walked across the room gracefully, obviously not noticing poor Hamlet. "How can I get Ophelia to notice me?" Hamlet whispered to himself. He had loved Ophelia admiring her from afar, never able to truly express the extent of his love for her. He turned away, and to think he should have been enjoying himself on such a royal occasion. The annual festival celebrating his father winning boundless amounts of land for Denmark was a rare occasion, but every year felt the same. Ophelia would always drift toward other more attractive men, and Hamlet would be left, cut off from the love of his life.
     The way she moved was like a slow song upon a piano, soft and painful at moments, and uplifting and beautiful in others. "I will not let her slip away," Hamlet thought to himself. He knew that is he wanted to gain Ophelia's love he had to act before it was too late. The song by the band suddenly changed into a chorus of upbeat notes that fluttered across the room. He knew that this would be his only chance to dance with the woman of his dreams.
     Hamlet raced down the balcony onto the ball room floor and approached Ophelia. She glanced into his eyes and suddenly his heart began to melt. "My lady, I would be honored to have this dance with you," he said with a smile stretched across his heart. Ophelia blushed, and with a flood of confidence Hamlet carried her to the dancefloor. His moves were fast on the grounds of the castle, as his arms and legs glided effortlessly to the flow of the music. They dance all night and Ophelia soon was covered by his passion and amazing calmness. She brushed her hand across his cheek and whispered, "Forgive me for not seeing you tonight." Hamlet looked deep within himself, and mustered up his strength. With a kiss on the cheek goodnight he whispered, "Ophelia, thank you... for not looking on me with your eyes, but for looking on me with your heart."

Chapter 9 Minor Characters

Wolfsheim- In this chapter Wolfsheim flatly refuses to attend Gatsby's funeral, because he says he is mixed up in some important business. "I cannot come down now as i am tied up in some very important business and cannot get mixed up in this thing now" (p. 174). He seems devestated, and Gatsby's death serves as a shock to his life.

Owl Eyes- Along with Gatsby's father the only other person in  attendance to Gatsby's funeral is the mysterious Owl Eyes, the drunk who was so astonished by Gatsby's library at the beginning of the book.

Henry C. Gatz- Gatsby's father appears in this chapter after Nick tracks him down.Gatz is very sad, helpless and extremely sorrowful at the loss of his son. He also shows Nick the book Gatsby kept as a contunuous self-improvement schedule.

Chapter 7 Themes

Chapter 7 shows many aspects of the american dream extremely evident in this chapter. One of those evident is the pursuit of happiness. Gatsby knows in this chapter that Diasy is his chance to find happiness in his life, and he earnestly pursues her, even if she is still married to Tom. He even fires all of his servant's and hires new people who he knows won't gossip about them. It seems as Gatsby is willing to sacrifice anything to gain her love. Daisy eventually cries out "I never loved him" (p.139). Gatsby is stressed with the issue of Tom and he wants to be assured of Daisy's love for him and not for Tom. Tom's adultury with Myrtle (who is eventually hit by Batsby's car in this chapter), and Gatsby's afternoon affairs with Daisy are also a perfect example of the immorality of the time period this book was written. As Tom and Gatsby both search for happiness in their lives apart from their spouses, the question remains. How fair will they go to rech satisfaction in their lives?

Chapter 5 Themes

This chapter in full of actions that show Gatsby's chase of the American dream. this being the main theme in the chapter, Gatsby shows off his outstanding wealth and possessions in order to win Daisy's heart. Gatsby brings out his clothing, most of all the staggering pile of shirts he shows Daisy. "While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher-" (p.97). Gatsby reflects the neverending chase of the American dream as he shows off his huge amount of material possessions, and tries to find long lost love in Daisy's heart. Gatsby doesn't seem at peace with his life, and he believes that being with Daisy will fix this. In short, Gatsby searches for true happiness, showing one of the key components in the American Dream