VCCS Litonline Introduction to Literature
English 112 (English Composition II)

The Hamlet Site

Watching the Zeffirelli Movie

Objective for this Page: To analyze the staging of a scene.

[c. 4320-c. 4770] Hamlet Confronts Gertrude, His Mother [III.iv.1-217]

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 or Glenn Close portraying Gertrude.

How does the shot on Gertrude alone near the end of the scene echo the staging and serve the same purpose as the shot on Gertrude at the end of her confrontation with Hamlet earlier in Act III?

List of Camera Shots

1. Polonius coaches Gertrude to discipline Hamlet after the play (The Murder of Gonzago that had been mimed for which Hamlet had changed the circumstances of the murder to make them more closely resemble Claudius's murder of his brother) embarrassed the king. (Was Polonius in on the assassination? Was Gertrude?)

2. Polonius, heading for the door from which Hamlet will enter, ducks behind the tapestry instead of exiting the room--all the better to eavesdrop again.

3. Hamlet enters, twirling his sword, and plants it to confront Gertrude. (full-length shot to mid-shot)

4. Gertrude, on bed (mid-shot), chastises Hamlet. (back and forth between Gert. & Ham.)

5. Hamlet approaches camera and looms over it, as if in Gertrude’s face (mid-shot to close-up)

6. Hamlet, back to camera, facing the shadows, yells, turns, and raises sword to intercept Gertrude by the door and force her back to the bed at swordpoint. (mid-shot on Hamlet to wide shot on both)

7. Gertrude yells (close-up).

8. (Wide-angle) Polonius yells, and Hamlet runs at tapestry.

9. (Close-up) Hamlet stabs through tapestry, leaving sword flapping.

10. (Close-up) Gertrude covers her mouth in shock.

11. (Close-up) Sword shown flapping still.

12. Hamlet (mid-shot) raises hands in victory.

13. (Close-up) Hamlet wonders, "Is it the king?"

14. (Close-up) Hamlet removes sword.

15. (Mid-shot) Polonius rolls out from under tapestry with a dead-eyed stare.

16. Gertrude, backlit by the fire from the fireplace, approaches Polonius’s body (wide) to proclaim his stabbing a "rash and bloody deed" (mid-shot).

17. Hamlet, face lit by the firelight as he bends to Polonius, (mid-shot) fires back that it’s almost as rash as to "kill a king, and marry with his brother."

18. Gertrude reacting to "kill a king," repeats the words and backs away from Hamlet. (mid-shot)

19. Hamlet leans over Polonius (mid-shot).

20. Looking down on Polonius, we see Hamlet’s arm as he reaches to close Polonius’s dead eyes. (mid-shot)

21. Hamlet (mid-shot) notices Gertrude’s worry.

22. Gertrude shown (full-length) wringing her hands.

23. Hamlet (mid-shot) lays down his sword and raises his empty hands to reassure her.

24. Hamlet (mid-shot) arises to "wring [her] heart."

25. Gertrude tries to flee, but Hamlet intercepts her and backs her onto the bed, firelight on her face as the two sit side-by-side and Hamlet tells her his medallion contrast. (mid-shot on both)

26. Gertrude moves to pull away from Hamlet’s punchline in the analogy (mid-shot on both).

27. Hamlet yanks Gertrude down onto the bed by the chain on her medallion, (close-up on both) Gertrude’s face lit by the firelight while Hamlet’s is half lit and half shadow.

28. (Close-up) Gertrude feels guilty; Hamlet is overcome behind her.

29. Hamlet flips Gertrude, leaving his face lit by firelight and hers shadowed (close-ups back and forth) as he repeatedly pushes his hips down onto hers.

30. Her kiss begins as we look down on her from behind Hamlet (close-up).

31. The kiss continues as the camera, level with their heads from just off the bed, sees Hamlet raise his face to be lit by firelight. (close-up)

32. (Full-length) Ghost approaches from outside Gertrude’s bedroom door, so he is in shadow.

33. Gertrude’s face (close-up)

34. Empty doorway.

35. Hamlet down beside the bed talks to the ghost. (close-up)

36. back and forth between Hamlet and ghost, now in the room

37. Ghost (mid-shot) tells concern about Gertrude’s "amazement."

38. Hamlet gets back onto the bed beside Gertrude (mid-shot on both).

39. Empty doorway.

40. Hamlet & Gertrude (mid-shot on both)

41. Ghost leaving (full-length)

42. Hamlet, beside Gertrude on floor beside her bed, reveals he isn’t really crazy.

43. Gertrude (close-up) confesses Hamlet has "cleft [her] heart in twain."

44. Hamlet gives Gertrude his medallion, bearing the image of his father. (mid-shot on both)

45. Hamlet and Gertrude, with fire in the background.

46. (Close-up) Gertrude, looking kindly after Hamlet’s forgiving words

47. Hamlet crosses to Polonius’s body (full-length).

48. Hamlet (wide-angle) about to pick up Polonius’s body.

49. (Mid-shot to close-up) Hamlet approaches Gertrude urging her to keep his secret.

50. Gertrude nods (close-up), agreeing not to reveal Hamlet’s sanity.

51. Hamlet crosses to Poloniuns and picks up his body (mid-shot), dragging it through the doorway.

52. Down (full-length) on Gertrude, sitting on her rug traumatized.

53. Hamlet (distant) drags Polonius’s body down the dark hallway.

54. (Extreme close-up) Hamlet’s medallion in Gertrude’s hand as she closes on it.

55. (Wide) Claudius’s entrance: Gertrude hides Hamlet’s medallion behind her back; then camera pans slightly to Claudius.

[Part of IV.i.5-31 is used to close out this scene--but Rosencranz and Guildenstern are not with Claudius, and the "room in the castle" is still Gertrude’s bed chamber.]

56. Claudius crosses to Gertrude (wide).

57. (Close-up) Gertrude reports Hamlet has insanely killed Polonius.

58. (Extreme close-up) Polonius’s blood on the floor of Gertrude’s bedroom.

Directions: As you watch this scene and use the notes about the dozens of camera shots it contains, make your own notes about one of the topics below, especially concerning the impact of this element on the tone of the scene or the ideas in it as they suggest a theme for the play.

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.

Staging Elements

Props:

Sounds/Sound Effects:

Setting:

Colors:

Costumes:

Camera Angles & Distance:

Blocking (Actors’ Positions and Movements):

Light vs. Shadow

Music: