Hamlet: Hamlet and Change Room Essay

Submitted By Hellow2
Words: 506
Pages: 3
Open Document
Joseph Hellow
February 11, 2013
Theater Appreciation After a few hundred years of being extinct, the medieval period revived theater production. Most of the plays were religious based and spoken in the common language in outdoor venues. The Medieval stage wasn’t like the Greek stage that was imbedded in a hillside; a Medieval stage was set on wooden supports with a curtain on the back that doubled as an entrance and change room. Underneath the stage was an area closed off that would allow actors to portray a version of hell or the devil. It was likely that the performance was seen on wheels in the middle of town since after a show the actors and stage were expected to leave. The platform stage was used from the 13th-15th centuries throughout England and Europe. (Wilson and Goldfarb 151) Shakespeare had a similar way of portraying his production, but with a more elaborate approach. Unlike the medieval period in which plays were religious, Shakespeare wrote about tragedies and comedies. Shakespeare was influenced by a platform stage setup in the center of a courtyard typically surrounded by four walls. The Globe, resembling the platform stage, held all kinds of society. The audience, all within roughly sixty feet of the actors, must have been fascinated by structure of their environment as well as being able to interact with the actors on stage. Just picture standing in an auditorium watching a play, a balcony right above you of people enjoying the same show all while being able to look up at the sky. It would form a connection between actors and audience that could only make for an amazing experience. The stage itself had a three level balcony to portray various parts of the play as well as double for a change room and a place for the musicians. (Wilson and Goldfarb 153) Hamlet, Shakespeare’s longest and most powerful tragedy, explores revenge, incest, and moral corruption. I do believe it is based on a true story but with
Show More

Related Documents: Hamlet: Hamlet and Change Room Essay

Hamlet Has Gone Crazy Analysis

In the play Hamlet, the sanity of the character Hamlet seems questionable.It started with the death of his father and the quick marriage of Hamlet’s mother to his uncle. These events push Hamlet towards murder himself. One might see how this could drive him insane. In several scenes it appears that Hamlet has gone crazy. But it is also shown that Hamlet might just be acting crazy as a way to seek revenge for his father's murder. Hamlet first seems to go crazy when he finds out about his father’s…

Words 828 - Pages 4

Hamlet's Madness Research Paper

Hamlet’s Madness Whether Hamlet was truly mad or not has sparked many conflicting answers about The Tragedy of Hamlet. However, there is more powerful evidence pointing to the fact that Hamlet is truly mad. As Shakespeare develops his characters, Hamlet seems to become crazier as the play progresses. Hamlet’s true madness is shown by Hamlet ignoring Horatio’s warning not to speak to the ghost, his disregard for human life, and through the appearance of a ghost that only Hamlet can see. Shakespeare uses…

Words 973 - Pages 4

Hamlet: Hamlet and Ophelia Essay

topics of William Shakesphere's Hamlet is the question of whether or not Hamlet truly loved Ophelia. Was there any room in his sorrowful heart for love? Or was his heart shattered by those he loved and trusted the most? “Hamlet names Ophelia as ‘woman’ and ‘frailty’: is she indeed representative of woman, and does her madness stand for the oppression of woman in society as well as in tragedy?” (Miola, Representing Ophelia: pg 283). At the beginning of this play, Hamlets feelings for Ophelia are sexual:…

Words 601 - Pages 3

Examples Of Not Insane In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Shakespeare's Hamlet is one of the most controversial plays in literary history. One of the many controversies within the play is whether or not Hamlet was truly mad. The fact that Hamlet is not insane can be proved in the way he acts and speaks, not only to other characters, but in soliloquies as well. One major sign that Hamlet is not crazy is that he openly admits to Ophelia that he is only pretending to be mad to revenge his father's death. It is also evident when he is talking with Rosencrantz…

Words 444 - Pages 2

Hamlet's Soliloquy Analysis

The most well-known line in English literature is “To be, or not to be”; where Hamlet ponders about his possibilities. This scene had been reproduced by many directors and actors, however, the best version of “To be, or not to be” was performed by Branagh because of his use of setting, lighting, and props. In Branagh’s version, the scene took place in an open room symbolizing how easily others can burden Hamlet’s life. In his soliloquy, he states his burdens, “The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s…

Words 537 - Pages 3

The Medieval Method Actor An Analysis of Hamlet s Madness and Melancholy Essay

as much as he was being” (“Why Actors Act Out”). Often when Shakespeare’s Hamlet is discussed, Hamlet is regarded as either truly insane or acting insane throughout the work. However, this is an unrealistic view. People change with day to day life, and even more so when confronted with catastrophes. It would make sense then to reason that Hamlet, who experiences some of the worst events imaginable, would change very much over the course of his life. This alteration of mental acuity is…

Words 1706 - Pages 7

Essay on Hamlet At The Movies

Hamlet at the Movies The works of William Shakespeare have been widely studied through various types of media. Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, has been adapted for film multiple times with many different interpretations. Adaptation of a literary work for film creates a unique version of the original work due to the director’s vision for the film, production restrictions, screenwriting, and many other factors. Shakespeare’s Hamlet opens with guards exchanging watch over the royal…

Words 367 - Pages 2

Hamlet - characterisation Essay examples

Analysis Characterisation of Hamlet Act 1 scene 2 The Melancholic Introduction. Think about the creation of the character. Clothing. Demeanor. Shakespeare has a tragic hero with skill in language. Does he always use this to show his intelligence or does it sometimes show his instability? Think about his dialogue with Gertrude and Claudius at the start. Soliloquy 1. – Frustration. Suicidal Contemplates suicide Frustration at being unable to come to terms with Gertrude's marriage to Claudius…

Words 1722 - Pages 7

Hamlet What Happens After We Die Analysis

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet talks about death quite a lot. He mentions that death is an equalizer: “[W]e fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots.Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service—two dishes, but to one table.That’s the end” (4.3.24-27) This quote shows that Hamlet thinks that no matter how rich or poor you are, in the end, everyone faces death and being rich and poor doesn’t change this fact. Death makes everyone equal because when you die,…

Words 416 - Pages 2

Hamlet Laertes And Fortinbras Analysis

“Hamlet” by William Shakespeare is one of the most known plays in Literature. Shakespeare wrote about many themes and had very unique characters to tell us about how people are. One of the most important themes in “Hamlet” is probably the need to seek out revenge and how you accomplished that need. Shakespeare shows us this through the actions of the characters of Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras because every single one of them wants to get revenge for the murder of their father. Even though their…

Words 996 - Pages 4