The Hamlet Site: Watching To be or not to be

Is Hamlet Suicidal or Not?

typehand.gif (8738 bytes) Directions: After you view this scene, write comments about the elements of staging in the Zeffirelli movie. A list of topics follows the list of camera shots/events in the scene--with a sample comment about props.

Use your notes to help you decide if Hamlet is portrayed as suicidal in this famous scene. What realizations does he make about death and the afterlife and how fear (of death?) impacts on people's plans?

(Click here for a hint on re-opening a word processor.)

In the record of camera shots listed below, the numbered item overviews a segment of the action, and then the asterisks list the camera shots within that segment. Even the asterisked note may apply to more than one actual camera shot.

As you watch, you may notice some shots are from a distance, others mid-range shots (from the waist up), some close-ups on a face. You might also notice whether the camera seems to be looking up, down, or at eye level to Mel Gibson portraying Hamlet--even if eye level is only inches off the floor at one point.

1. Hamlet trudges down the steps to the burial chamber beneath the castle. The ceiling has grates that let in some light from above.

*Hamlet leans against the wall at the end of the staircase he has descended.
*The camera (as if Hamlet's eyes) pans the crypt left to right across the sarcophogi.
*Extreme close up on Hamlet's "To be or not. . ."
*Hamlet strides into the burial chamber at "to take arms against a sea of troubles."
*Shot of niches with skeletons at "to die . . ."
*Back to Hamlet with white sarcophagus behind him at "sleep no more."
*Niches again
*Hamlet again

2. Hamlet leans on one sarcophagus (his father's??) that he approaches as if talking to it about "to sleep" and eventually slumps down beside another ("who would fardels bare" vs. "a bare bodkin").

* "undiscovered country": shot of niches again with skeletons
* Hamlet speaks of conscience in deep shadow.
* He speaks of "enterprises...lose...action" looking into light.

3. Hamlet heads for the stairway up, slumping with one hand resting on stone support, in silhouette.

Reminder: Open a word processor to make your comments about these staging elements. From there you can copy them to your email, to send to a classmate for comments or to your instructor. You can also save them for yourself and print them.

Props: [Sample Comment] It would provide a certain symmetry to Act III if Hamlet were visiting his father, wondering if he shouldn't just toss the whole quest for justice and take himself out of action instead of Claudius--and then be visited by his father "to whet [his] almost blunted purpose" in another chamber.

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