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  • Essay / Representation in cinema Ethan Hawke and Kenneth Branagh To be or not to be: analysis

    Film comparisonHamlet is supposed to avenge the death of his father, but things get in the way and prevent him from doing so , which causes him even more stress. life. Hamlet's problems lead him to debate his existence. During the soliloquy, Hamlet debates the possibility of committing suicide, but ultimately determines that people are too cowardly to commit suicide because they are unsure of life after death. The soliloquy “To be or not to be…” in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet has been successfully portrayed through the film adaptations of Kenneth Branagh and Ethan Hawke, through language elements such as underlined lines, physical elements such as the scenery and camera elements. plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Arguably the play's most famous line begins Hamlet's second soliloquy, "To be or not to be: that is the question: whether 'it is nobler in the mind to suffer.' Here, Hamlet addresses the unidentified afterlife and acknowledges the medieval religious ideas of the time that people go to heaven or hell when they die. Shakespeare used the techniques of repetition, metaphors, and soliloquy to show the exceptional ability and use of his mind, as well as his intellectual thoughts. In both film adaptations, the soliloquy is well represented with elements of language. In Kenneth Branagh's version, Hamlet expresses his emotions through his voice. When Hamlet says, "To be or not to be, that is the question" (3.1.64) in the Branagh version, his voice is very sincere and brings out the emotion behind what he is feeling. Hamlet's gentle tone makes the audience feel all the emotions related to his contemplation of his own life. In Hawke's version, when Hamlet says "To die, to sleep -- No more -- and by a sleep say we put an end to sorrow and a thousand natural shocks..." (3.1.68-70). The pain and scratchiness of his voice helps in the depiction of the soliloquy because he debates his own life and what it would be like to die, and Hamlet nonchalantly contemplates ending his life. Physical elements are important in the description of “To be or not to be”. Be…” soliloquy. In the Hawke version, Hamlet wanders into a video store. The fact that it takes place in such a random location shows the uncertainty of what is happening in Hamlet's life. In the Branagh version, Hamlet looks in the mirror and stares closely trying to see if he can see the madness in himself that everyone else sees. It's also that earlier in the play he explains that appearance is not everything and that it does not make a person, yet he looks in the mirror as he contemplates his own life and death . The physical elements of films help depict the central message of the monologue. The camera elements represent the messages that are trying to be spoken in the soliloquy. In Branagh's version, the camera focuses on Hamlet's reflection in the mirror. The camera focused on the reflection shows the other side of Hamlet. This shows his inner pain, it's as if the viewer sees Hamlet's true feelings. Since Hamlet is contemplating death at this point, once he takes out the dagger and moves closer to the mirror, it shows how close he is to killing himself, but then he realizes that he must to avenge the death of his father and that suicide is not the solution. In Hawke's version, the camera follows Hamlet around the video store as he contemplates his life. This shows the uncertainty he feels about suicide. The soliloquy “To be or not to)