In Defense of Ophelia

In my English Literature class, we are studying Hamlet, and while we’re pretty slow in reading it (we’re still in Act 2 Scene 2) I already have the basic gist of the play. For example Hamlet, obviously being the titular character and protagonist, is the tragic hero. Therefore, it is inevitable that he will die. Also, even just two acts into the play, we’ve already encountered a handful of familiar quotes and phrases, showing how popular this play really is. It has been quoted many times (sometimes misquoted *wink*), and it really is a humbling feeling to be able to study something that has affected society in this way. To quote your work is probably the greatest compliment an author — or this case playwright — can ever get.

Bravo, Shakespeare!

There are so many themes going on in Hamlet, but for this time I’m going to focus on Ophelia. Having not read the entire play yet, I only have a vague idea on what’s going to happen to her (insanity? death?). However, I get this feeling — a vibe, if you will — that most people see her in a bad light. Just because she did as she was told doesn’t mean she’s weak. If anything, I think it’s remarkable that she can see beyond what she wants and understand that doing as she was told is the right thing to do. (This, of course, is debatable.)

Anyway, the following is an essay I began to write during class and finished during Private Study. This is purely my view on things, just to warn you. ^__^

Lookie What I Found!

So in accordance to my English Lit. homework, I’ve searched in the internet the many versions of Hamlet in film. I’ve managed to find three: a 1996 movie with Kate Winslet as Ophelia, a 1990 movie with Mel Gibson as Hamlet, and one really, really old version made in 1948. (As for the David Tennant fan in me, I’m searching for a video of that play for fun.)

Anyway, as I was searching through the web pages, I stumbled upon this nifty poem.

Green Eggs and Hamlet

I ask to be or not to be.
That is the question I ask of me.
This sullied life, it makes me shudder.
My uncle's boffing dear sweet mother.
Would I, could I take me life?
Could I, should I end this strife?
Should I jump out of a plane?
Or throw myself before a train?
Should I from a cliff just leap?
Could I put myself to sleep?
Shoot myself or take some poison?
Maybe try self immolation?
To shudder off this mortal coil,
I could stab myself with a fencing foil.
Slash my wrists while in the bath?
Would it end my angst and wrath?
To sleep, to dream, now there's the rub.
I could drop a toaster in my tub.
Would all be glad if I were dead?
Could I perhaps kill them instead?
This line of thought takes consideration-
For I'm the king of procrastination.

Awesome, isn’t it? It brought a smile to my face ^__^

Related articles

• 34: To be or Not to be (1behindthemask.wordpress.com)
• Review: Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray (csilibrarian.wordpress.com)
• How many scenes is Gertrude present in in Hamlet (wiki.answers.com)

If you could be part of any fictional universe, what would it be?

Well, it’s simply been a long time since I’ve answered a prompt (excluding Photo Challenges) and I’m really excited about this one, simply because my life pretty much revolves around fictional universes. Take the last few days, for example: from the moment I wake up until the moment I sleep, I’ve been reading Harry Potter fan fictions, watching old Doctor Who episodes and just last night, the last train of thought I had before slipping into dreamland was “Doubt thou the stars are fire…”

This prompt opens a whole load of possibilities for me: I would enjoy travelling back in time with the Doctor in the TARDIS. I would love to hang out with Percy, Annabeth and Grover and battle some monsters. It would be a dream come true to be able to bend an element and have fun with the Gaang, fly with Eragon on Saphira’s back, wear a medieval dress and go to King Arthur’s court…

But I think, most of all, I would love to step into J.K Rowling’s magical world, to attend Hogwarts for the next seven years, get Sorted into Ravenclaw (if I do say so myself), and fly on broomsticks and just cause general mayhem.

It would be a very unique — not to mention jaw-dropping — experience to actually meet face-to-face the Golden Trio and the Weasley family. I would go all Colin Creevey on them and take millions of pictures and ask question after question after question… I’d probably annoy Harry, but oh well.

Aye, there’s the rub.

Celebrity Crush of the Moment: David Tennant