Comparing Hamlet And Branagh's Speech

In Branagh’s version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the ‘To be, or not to be’ speech is interpreted differently than other actors’. Branagh’s character, Hamlet, knows he is being watched by Claudius and Polonius. His disclosure about not committing suicide for fear of the afterlife is part of his plan to keep Claudius at bay until he can convince himself that Claudius is the assassin and find a way to get revenge. The set of this scene includes mirrors and mirrored doors but it is difficult to tell them apart. These are used very intriguingly by Branagh. He bangs on the doors to find whoever is listening to him while dragging Ophelia around the room. Here, the many doors and mirrors are used as images to represent the countless number of options that Hamlet has. When Hamlet talks to

Gibson begins by descending into a crypt which holds the bodies of all of his past family members, including his father. This sets the stage very well for a contemplation of suicide. Gibson seems to be very calm throughout the progression of his soliloquy and often does not seem to be considering suicide. Many Hamlets, including Branagh, come to the conclusion that suicide is not an option during the speech but Gibson’s Hamlet seems to begin with this idea already in his head. This was a very unusual take on the scene but it brought out Hamlet’s intelligence and solidified his sanity. The dark background of the set forced the audience to focus on the little details of Gibson’s expressions and then the bodies that appeared with their eyes closed using sleep to symbolize death. All of the coffins represent the many different ways that Hamlet could kill Claudius but they are also an allusion to Hamlet’s struggle with life. Gibson’s tone is sad, depressed, and yet soft throughout his soliloquy. There was no music which allowed the audience to rely on his words and expressions to portray the emotion of the