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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help
I agree wholeheartedly with the two excellent replies
immediately below this.One (John?) mentioned the plotting, which, as he notes
is so often overlooked in Shakespeare. Yes, this is
pure genius, as a theatre person is more likely to
tell you than a "literary scholar."The other (Caustic?) mentioned the language. I agree,
and I would like to add to his thoughts.My favorite moments from the play are those scenes
in which Hamlet's clever word play allows him to
completely deceive the listener, while he enjoys the
"private double-meaning" (and sometimes triple meaning)
which the carefully chosen words contain. The most
obvious examples come in his scenes with Polonius,
where he manages to insult the guy right to his face,
all while keeping up the facade that his dialogue is
merely babbling nonsense. Other similar moments come
when he speaks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and
Ophelia, and both Ophelia and Gertrude (before the
play-within-the-play).The poetry is of course wonderful. The imagery of
the language is powerful, and thought-provoking. However,
it is these moments of "private enjoyment" where only
Hamlet (and the audience) are aware of the "depth" which
language can have, which I have grown to love.Thanks to both John and Caustic for reminding us
all of the play's virtues.-Bruce
Posted by Bruce Spielbauer on March 29, 1997 at 16:12:12
In Reply to "I need help this time." posted by Kari on March 25, 1997 at 19:40:05
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help