To Be or Not To Be

      The 'To Be or Not to Be' speech is famous worldwide. Not only because many people have renacted this famous scene out of Shakespeare's Hamlet, but because the meaning/problem behind the speech is one of the leading cause of death in the entire world. In class, we reviewed four versions of this speech. Out of the four i would say i liked Branaugh's version the best.

       Even though Zeffereli's version was just as good, I just think Branaugh's version attracted me and made me feel the power of the speech more. In Branaugh's version, Prince Hamlet is looking into the mirror, representing that the problem is him. It was not over dramatic and his voice was clear and understandable. The music also went along with the actions of the scene. It was not too loud and exxagerated like his ghost scene.

       All the actors that acted this scene had different tones of voice in each part of the speech. In the beginning they all seem to be depressed, lonesome, hopeless. Then when they had the notion of death may not be always the right solution, there voice went in an uptone like they realized that they could be wrong.

       I think that there are so many versions of this speech is because everybody interprets it into there own way. They have different imagery on how the actor should portray this scene, whether more sad or maybe uplifting. Regardless, there is always one true meaning behind this speech and that is whether to die or to live is the better choice. Shakespeare shows us to open up our minds and not think simple.

The First Ghost Scene

Out the the three ghost scenes, I would say that Zeffirelli's version was the most effective. the other two scenes were well, but lacked in some areas. For example, in Branagh's version, the ghost was talking in a way where the audience, or atleast myself, could not comprehend what he was saying. Also, the imense amount of flashbacks and loud dramatic music were unnecessary. It was overly exxagerated.
My least favorite out of the bunch was Almereyda's. The way the director tried to modernize the story took away from the oraginality. Also, I did not like the way he tried to modernize the play but yet again tried to use the old language used in the original Hamlet. The two do not match. It's either you change both, or change nothing. It was a total mess.
Zeffirelli's version was good because the actors were clear to hear and it is more realistic to believe than the other two. If I had to direct the ghost scene for myself I would have music that goes along with the scene and take away the medieval theme, but something close to Zeffirelli's. I wouldn't make it over dramatic, but dramatic enough to make it seem interesting.