Brittany Anselmo

Ryan Gallagher

English 12 CP

March 20, 2011

Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" Soliloquy.

        Most of the time when reading books, the reader may not be able to find a movie

that actually portrays how the book made him or her imagine it for themselves. Most

movies of books will have the same plot line but  not the same dialogue, names,

characters, and sometime more information is added in the movie then what is in the

actually text. The best movie clip that has the best interpretation as the book would be the

Kenneth Branagh version.

        The Kenneth Branagh is the best version of Hamlet because of the fact that it

portrays Hamlets soliloquy how the book does. In the movie it is word for word as the

book. The words aren’t changed at all. The reader could fallow along in the book and

would not miss anything or have to skip over three lines because of the movie not having

them in it like the book. Most movies are not like that, so because of the fact that it is, it

allows you to be able to not miss anything or for it to not change the real meaning or

scene from what was read in the book.

        In the movie clip of Hamlet’s soliloquy the actor did a good job to portray Hamlet

as he was in the book. The tone of the actor was good especially for the words he was
reading. He did over act it or make it look to fake. He actually looked like he could have

been the real Hamlet himself. At first it started off with this deep emotion of really

meaning what he was saying and as it lines went on he got into it and the viewer could

see the passion in his words as he staring at himself in the mirror and pulls out the knife

from his pocket. The knife was a good way to help show the dramatic effects of Hamlet’s

words to pull the viewer in.  The viewer can see that Hamlet is just as serious in the

movie as he is in the book. He said the words at the right and time and paused at the right

time, doing this cause it to have a real effect. Watching this movie clip can help the

reader better understand the soliloquy in the book.

        In the movie they place some music when Hamlet starts getting deep into his

soliloquy. The music was not too much. It was the right amount and the right sound for

this soliloquy. The music starts at the right time and it brings a more dramatic feel to the

scene and makes it more interesting.

        The way the back scene of the movie clip really helps the whole scene out in

general. The room is covered in mirrors. Hamlet can see his reflection but not the people

on the other side listening to him. Hamlet’s alone when giving his “to be or not to be”

soliloquy and all that is the room is him and his reflection. He’s talking to him self and

watching himself. The director made a good decision to capture that effect with all the

mirrors. The view can really see Hamlet’s reaction to what he is saying from his

reflection in the mirror.  When looking in the mirrors it gives it an effect of him being

extremely serious and really wanting his mind to go to a different place of questions and

thoughts. Since Hamlet was alone and talking to himself anyways it was a good idea to

surround him with al the mirrors cause he is looking at himself and talking to himself.
The lighting of the room was really bright because of the fact that Hamlet was talking

about death it was opposite of each other which was interesting.

The way Shakespeare writes gives the reader a way to look at life and other things

differently. He has a way of putting opposites together but having them make sense at the

same time as if they fit together. The director of this movie showed the same thing

therefore why this being the better clip of the four for this “to be or not to be” soliloquy.