... , scene one Ophelia explains how she was terribly frightened by Hamlet's disheveled appearance and odd behaviour. At this point Ophelia truly believes that his madness is caused by his love for her - "He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it. Long stayed he so." Ophelia's interpretation of his state of mind is likely to be based upon what Polonious says ... , "This is the very ecstasy of love." She values her father's opinion highly and trusts his conclusion implicitly. Polonious implies that Hamlet is to be feared "leads the will to ... desperate undertakings" Ophelia is ...

• Word Count: 1730
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... and expressed a very depressed and confused image that truly conveyed the emotions that Shakespeare himself tried to communicate in his writing. "Zeffirelli's screen interpretation centres on Mel Gibson's deft portrayal of the intense emotions throttling the mind and body of this melancholy Dane" (Brussat, Spirituality and Health). Branagh, in his version flatly regurgitated the soliloquy as he stared at a mirror expressionlessly. The ... already had sexual intercourse and that Hamlet did not want Ophelia any more since her treasure' was lost. In Zeffirelli's version, Ophelia just emphasi...

• Word Count: 2265
• Approx Pages: 9

... no lies or deception and express only his own thoughts. They also intervene on the point that the inability to act is part of Hamlet's complex character: "Am I a coward?" Hamlet contemplates, wondering why he has not yet avenged his father's death. I feel this is partly due to him being a scholar. ... sense it shows Hamlet's growth in confidence, he now seems to have the courage to avenge his father's "most foul and unnatural murder." In the text there is no clear evidence of the "murder" until Claudius confesses his sins to God and also his reaction to the players interpretation of Old ...

• Word Count: 2036
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... . This carefully thought-through decision provides Hamlet with the perfect incentive to either kill Claudius, or decide that the ghost was lying, and that his initial emotional response was rash. One way in which readers and scholars of Hamlet have interpreted the significance of both reason and passion in the play is by shaping the interpretation with various philosophies throughout history. 17th ... century Romanticists may see Hamlet as a hero of passion: one who follows his instincts and feelings. Hamlet appears to be shaped by his different emotions at different times ... in the pl...

• Word Count: 1742
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School