Hamlet Comparison Assignment

Detailed Character Analysis

The way a director represents a character is vital to understanding a play, movie, or any form of media. Hamlet, as perceived by Laurence Oliver is very aggressive and bipolar. Franco Zeffirelli and Laurence Oliver perceive Hamlet in a similar manner. Kenneth Branagh portrays Hamlet in a manner, that differs from the perception of Hamlet by the other two directors. Branagh changes many of the characteristics of Hamlet. Branagh’s objective is to represent Hamlet in a manner that is acceptable by social normalities. Branagh makes the play less serious and dramatic. For example, the connotation of the ghost is simplified. The ghost in Branagh’s movie is not metaphor for mental distress, rather the ghost is demonized. Branagh completely ditches the idea of Freudian theory. The Branagh Hamlet, is modernized to appeal to a younger audience.  Laurence Oliver, presents Hamlet as someone who is clearly being affected by psychological issues. From the start of Act 3 of the movie, Hamlet is shown being irrational and aggressive with Ophelia. Hamlet abuses Ophelia physically and verbally throughout the scene. The conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia is hostile and aggressive, as directed by Oliver. On the contrary, while reading the play one might think; Ophelia and Hamlet are having a civilized conversation. In Oliver’s version the ghost is represented solely as a mental mirage. Hamlet is placed on a cliff, while making the famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy. Oliver does this to metaphorically suggest that Hamlet is on the edge of sanity. While the ghost is shown, an image of the brain is shown on screen. While some have read about the ghost, many have not. For those who have not, the perception of what the ghost represents is going to be very different. The audience may not even think that the ghost is a character, due to how the ghost is presented by Oliver. Oliver utilises the climax to express his perception of Hamlet. Hamlet clearly expresses sexual desires for his mother in Act 3. The director undoubtedly adheres to the Freudian theory. The way Franco Zeffirelli presents Hamlet, is quite like Laurence Oliver’s perception of Hamlet. The way the movie is directed is quite different. Franco’s Hamlet is physically aggressive. For example, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are physically assaulted by Hamlet. Zeffirelli utilises multiple Freudian theories. For example, the setting of the “To be or not to be” soliloquy takes place in a graveyard. Zeffirelli amplifies Hamlet’s attraction with death utilising the Freudian theory “Death Drive”. Zeffirelli does this to display Hamlet’s psychological issues. On the contrary, the director keeps Hamlet’s psychological issues separate from the ghost. The audience may not associate the ghost as a representation of mental issues. This is the key difference between Zeffirelli’s Hamlet and Oliver’s Hamlet. Zeffirelli also unquestionably adheres to the oedipal complex. Zeffirelli not only implies sexual tension between Hamlet and Gertrude but shows it on screen. There are many similarities between the Laurence Oliver and Franco Zeffirelli’s perception on Hamlet. There are also some differences. The main difference being how the ghost is represented. Branagh’s movie is much more modernized and is completely different to the other two directors.

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