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Shakespeare - William Shakespeare Videos 25 videos
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Hamlet 104299 Views
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Description:
In the world of Shakespeare, pretty much everyone either dies or gets married. Hamlet and co. got the short end of that stick.
Transcript
- 00:00
Hamlet, a la Shmoop. This little piggy went to Denmark.
- 00:08
Let us get something straight right off the bat. “Hamlet” is not an omelet filled
- 00:14
with ham.
- 00:17
Although that sounds delicious, the Hamlet we’re talking about is even worse for you.
- 00:20
Especially if you happen to be hiding behind a tapestry.
Full Transcript
- 00:23
In fact, so many people die in Hamlet…
- 00:25
… that Rambo has body count envy. So if practically everyone gets sent to meet
- 00:33
their maker…
- 00:34
…why does this Fortinbras guy… who’s only in the play for two-point-two seconds…
- 00:39
get to make it out alive? First of all, Fortinbras shows up just after
- 00:44
all the madness and bloodshed has wrapped.
- 00:47
Pretty convenient if you ask us.
- 00:49
So… was it simply a matter of good timing?
- 00:52
Everyone who had a problem with anyone was already pushing up daisies by the time he
- 00:56
came traipsing through the door…
- 00:58
…so maybe good fortune was just shining on the guy.
- 01:01
It’s good to be the Prince. But would Shakespeare have spared the guy
- 01:06
just because he arrived on the scene fashionably late?
- 01:12
We know how much Billy Shakes loved bumping his characters off… surely he had a better
- 01:16
reason? Was it because he wanted to comment on the
- 01:19
scene of death and destruction left in Hamlet’s wake?
- 01:23
Horatio was one of the fortunate few who witnessed all the carnage and lived to tell the tale…
- 01:28
…and it was only fitting that he acted as a narrator in the waning moments…
- 01:33
…but having Fortinbras stroll in gives Horatio someone’s ear he can bend.
- 01:39
Otherwise, Horatio would have had to deliver a monologue…
- 01:42
…and Hamlet had already fulfilled the monologue quota for the day.
- 01:49
But wait… when has Shakespeare ever shied away from ending with a big ol’ monologue?
- 01:54
Was there another reason Fortinbras gets to keep breathing?
- 01:57
Perhaps he was a foil for Hamlet.
- 01:59
In other words, maybe we are supposed to see the drastically different lives of these two
- 02:04
princes, and contrast them.
- 02:06
By witnessing the military success and lack of emotional turmoil exhibited by this Prince…
- 02:11
…we can imagine where Hamlet might be today if he hadn’t been dealt such an unfortunate
- 02:15
set of circumstances. Did Fortinbras simply avoid the sweet release
- 02:20
of death because of an uncanny sense of timing?
- 02:23
Was he nothing more than a literary device, so that Horatio had someone to tell his story
- 02:27
to?
- 02:28
Or was he meant to represent Hamlet… new and improved?
- 02:41
Shmoop amongst yourselves.
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