Mr. Sullivan, my 12th grade English teacher, made us dress up in Burger King crowns and sword fight with paper towel tubes to make sense of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Here at the American School in Guadalajara we are going to use the internet instead. In the posts below, follow us as we seek to understand why this really is the greatest play in the English language.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Act V, 1
Hamlet’s interaction with the gravediggers is one of my favorite scenes in al of literature.What does it reveal to us about Hamlet?
Also, knowing me as your teacher all year, why do you think I like it?
The scene with Hamlet´s interaction with the gravediggers reveals us that Hamlet is a play where themes such as death are the central piece of the play and that without it, this play would be nothing. Either because it is the cause of Hamlet´s revenge, or Ophelia´s accidental suicide, it is what gives this play the sence of drama and tragedy. I think that you liked this scene because although the gravediggers are only peasants, they showed us how they know a lot of the current situation in a different style. The fact that they do it in a comical way in order to catch the peoples attention, maybe that is why you liked it, because of its comic simplicity. Another reason is maybe of how the gravedigger uses his words and witt to play and make fun of Hamlet when Hamlet was just trying to know of who´s grave was the gravedigger digging. After all we have been doing cartoon captions the whole year so maybe that is why you like this scene.
WHen the two gravediggers talked to each other, it reveals that Hamlet has to have some kind of tragety in the play. In other words, the play needs drama, because hamlet display drama in almost all the scene. I think you like this scene because we see that poor people can be intelligent enought to shut up Hamlets mouth.
I think that Mr. Gerber likes this scene because there is a lot of conflicts and confronts between two people who are pretty much identical in size, wealth and political stature. The scene interaciting is his favorite as well for there is a lot of good phrases and dilemmas passed on through the gravediggers and also because it represents the two types of people that exist in the world the conscious ones and the foolish ones. There are a lot of puzzles also thrown into that scene as well as good imagiry in which hamlet is holding the skull and saying words like how do important people like alexander and cesar come from being great people to converting into dust or wall patchers, it says true information.
I kind of understand where you are coming from Mr. Gerber. I think you enjoy when the most unexpected lesson, idea or in this case, character teaches us one of the most vital, important lessons in the whole play. A character that we think of as being "just a vulgar peasant" is truly, the breakpoint of the whole purpose of the play who throws the truth into our face in a simple yet, clear context. Which as he explains, is the dilemma of life and death. Maybe you can identify yourself as the gravedigger, and us as Hamlet, stubborn minds who think we know and have it all. Likewise, the gravedigger delivers of the most doubtfull themes in life in a comical, and almost hysterical way, directing his message to all, whether they´re a prince, king, or peasant.
I think I know why the gravedigger scene is one of your favorites. First of all, I know it, becasue you clearly said, "It is my favorite scene from Hamlet" I think you said it Mr. because I see that you like philosophy. Gravedigger one tells us his philosophy of why his job lasts longer. Another reason for why you like this scene, its because it reminds us that we have to brush our teeth (remember the jester's smile) and finally, because a simple gravedigger can play a trick on the prince of Denmark. We saw Hamlet during the entire play as the most intelligent character of Denmark, but a simple gravedigger can play a trick on him. That is why you liked this scene.
You probably like this scene because of the philosophy in it. You like the gravediggers as well because one is smart and one is dumb. You especially like the smart one. Gravedigger I (smart) speaks smartly and only smart people can understand what he is saying while dumb people, such as Gravedigger II (dumb), either misunderstand what is being said or have absolutely no clue what the smart person is blathering about.
I believe you like this scene because it tells us about a truth in real life. We can see in this scene that not always are people in higher social status the most inteligent, but that even a gravedigger can make fun of them. This scene reveals that Hamlet who thinks he know everything, does not.
I think that Mr. Gerber likes this scene because it shows equality in knowledge in between class. You can see that a simple grave maker can be smart and fool a noble. I think he likes it because there is a lot of thinking to do in this scene. On the question the grave maker makes about his job, or in the moment that hamlet is talking about the cycle of life. How at the end we all finish up the same. No matter what we accomplished in our life. Lourdes Loera
I think that Mr. Paul Gerber likes this scene of the grave keepers is the philosophical area. When they started to debate a rule that doesn't have a spesific corner were to stand and take the absolute decition of judging. Though, almost everything in life could have a edges and there could not be paths that will asume truth justice. Francisco Sanchez
I think you like it because the play is a big mix of all types of plays. There is drama, love, mystery, murders, a bit of everything. The part of the gravedigger is special because it proves that not only the rich are smart, and that is something the nobles believed, that they were not equal to other people. This scene was particularly special because the gravedigger was able to shut Hamlets mouth.
This scene is very likeable, judging by the amount of people who seemed to like it which I've talked to. I can think of why you like this scene, because there is a dumb digger and a smart digger, they are both simple persons but their minds think not alike, the combination of both of them and their dialogue lets us see that there is all this drama going on with Hamlet and the royal family and these two diggers really have no clue about what is going on. You might also like this scene because it shows how Hamlet, proven the most intelligent character of and by the play, can be at par with someone like a gravedigger. What I also think is that none of this is right, just my speculations, what I really think is that the reason why you like this scene is much more profound and yet I have no idea, probably I should know a little bit more about you. Anyways, those are the very simple and first thought ideas that I have regarding why you like the scene.
Personaly i belive that you like this scene because it shows a disccusion between a smart grave digger and a dum one. Also I think that it shows the true drama of the movie and in some ways it reveals what is going to happen next. In all drama novels the main character must die or happen something bad to him so in this scene it talks about that thats way i think that you like this scene.
This scene is certainly very revealing about Hamlet. First of all, once again it proves that Hamlet likes to mess around and play with the minds of people; though this time he is not so successful, for he tries to play a very clever gravedigger, and Hamlet ends up fooled. It also reveals to us that Hamlet had a normal life until recent, for we see pieces of his past where he was just another happy prince living it good. We do see that even though he was using Ophelia as a tool, he did desperately love her and cared about her. I believe you like it because it has a very intelligent content. It deals with philosophy, which I think you enjoy. This philosophy is delivered by a mere peasant, though it is very deep piece. And this peasant has a very loyal friend, who is also very stupid and says he understands it when he does not. Anyways, the philosophy that the gravedigger has about his job and the theory about everyone ending up in the same place is something I think you like. Finally, these two gravediggers have some very complex thinking going on, but they also give you a laugh.
this scene reveals that hamlet always is trying to mess around with someone elses mind, and he always tries to make them look bad or stupid, but in this scene he encounters a clever gavedigger and tha gravedigger is very humanized and smart so he doesnt get to fool him. i think this is your favorite scene because its a scene were they talk about stuff that only certain people understand, and also talk about philosophy. Carlos Perez
What I noticed from this scene is that sometimes people SEE what other people are intending to hide, and other people DONT see, or at least dont want to, what other people are trying to inform. Like Ophelia's family trying to hide the idea that Ophelia commited suicide by burrying her in the church's graveyard, thanks to the family's influences. As much as Ophelia's family tried to hide this secret, there are people, like the two gravediggers, that see whats going. I think this is trying to tell us that no matter how hard you try to hide a secret, sooner or later, people will see it. The gravediggers see what's going on, and have a conversation with Hamlet telling him that no matter how wealthy or powerful a person is, everybody ends up burried in the ground, at the same level. This is an example of how sometimes people Don't see what others are trying to inform/show. Hamlet's family ignores what other people are really saying and rather stick to the side of "dark secrets" that they think no one has a clue about them. That is why I think this scene is one of your favorites.
You enjoy the scene because you identify yourself with the first grave-digger. Hopefully you're not comparing US to the second grave-digger, but I can vividly imagine you playing the first ones role. It's not hard to see you posing the exact same question regarding Ophelia's suicide, but towards our classroom instead.
The scene with Hamlet´s interaction with the gravediggers reveals us that Hamlet is a play where themes such as death are the central piece of the play and that without it, this play would be nothing. Either because it is the cause of Hamlet´s revenge, or Ophelia´s accidental suicide, it is what gives this play the sence of drama and tragedy. I think that you liked this scene because although the gravediggers are only peasants, they showed us how they know a lot of the current situation in a different style. The fact that they do it in a comical way in order to catch the peoples attention, maybe that is why you liked it, because of its comic simplicity. Another reason is maybe of how the gravedigger uses his words and witt to play and make fun of Hamlet when Hamlet was just trying to know of who´s grave was the gravedigger digging. After all we have been doing cartoon captions the whole year so maybe that is why you like this scene.
ReplyDeleteWHen the two gravediggers talked to each other, it reveals that Hamlet has to have some kind of tragety in the play. In other words, the play needs drama, because hamlet display drama in almost all the scene. I think you like this scene because we see that poor people can be intelligent enought to shut up Hamlets mouth.
ReplyDeleteIvan Figueroa
I think that Mr. Gerber likes this scene because there is a lot of conflicts and confronts between two people who are pretty much identical in size, wealth and political stature. The scene interaciting is his favorite as well for there is a lot of good phrases and dilemmas passed on through the gravediggers and also because it represents the two types of people that exist in the world the conscious ones and the foolish ones. There are a lot of puzzles also thrown into that scene as well as good imagiry in which hamlet is holding the skull and saying words like how do important people like alexander and cesar come from being great people to converting into dust or wall patchers, it says true information.
ReplyDeleteAdrian Llamas
I kind of understand where you are coming from Mr. Gerber. I think you enjoy when the most unexpected lesson, idea or in this case, character teaches us one of the most vital, important lessons in the whole play. A character that we think of as being "just a vulgar peasant" is truly, the breakpoint of the whole purpose of the play who throws the truth into our face in a simple yet, clear context. Which as he explains, is the dilemma of life and death. Maybe you can identify yourself as the gravedigger, and us as Hamlet, stubborn minds who think we know and have it all. Likewise, the gravedigger delivers of the most doubtfull themes in life in a comical, and almost hysterical way, directing his message to all, whether they´re a prince, king, or peasant.
ReplyDeleteAlejandra Ramirez
I think I know why the gravedigger scene is one of your favorites. First of all, I know it, becasue you clearly said, "It is my favorite scene from Hamlet" I think you said it Mr. because I see that you like philosophy. Gravedigger one tells us his philosophy of why his job lasts longer. Another reason for why you like this scene, its because it reminds us that we have to brush our teeth (remember the jester's smile) and finally, because a simple gravedigger can play a trick on the prince of Denmark. We saw Hamlet during the entire play as the most intelligent character of Denmark, but a simple gravedigger can play a trick on him. That is why you liked this scene.
ReplyDeleteAbraham Showaki O.
You probably like this scene because of the philosophy in it. You like the gravediggers as well because one is smart and one is dumb. You especially like the smart one. Gravedigger I (smart) speaks smartly and only smart people can understand what he is saying while dumb people, such as Gravedigger II (dumb), either misunderstand what is being said or have absolutely no clue what the smart person is blathering about.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Oon
I believe you like this scene because it tells us about a truth in real life. We can see in this scene that not always are people in higher social status the most inteligent, but that even a gravedigger can make fun of them.
ReplyDeleteThis scene reveals that Hamlet who thinks he know everything, does not.
Oscar Bougart
I think that Mr. Gerber likes this scene because it shows equality in knowledge in between class. You can see that a simple grave maker can be smart and fool a noble. I think he likes it because there is a lot of thinking to do in this scene. On the question the grave maker makes about his job, or in the moment that hamlet is talking about the cycle of life. How at the end we all finish up the same. No matter what we accomplished in our life.
ReplyDeleteLourdes Loera
I think that Mr. Paul Gerber likes this scene of the grave keepers is the philosophical area. When they started to debate a rule that doesn't have a spesific corner were to stand and take the absolute decition of judging. Though, almost everything in life could have a edges and there could not be paths that will asume truth justice.
ReplyDeleteFrancisco Sanchez
I think you like it because the play is a big mix of all types of plays. There is drama, love, mystery, murders, a bit of everything. The part of the gravedigger is special because it proves that not only the rich are smart, and that is something the nobles believed, that they were not equal to other people. This scene was particularly special because the gravedigger was able to shut Hamlets mouth.
ReplyDeleteNicolas Chemello
ReplyDeleteon the last one
This scene is very likeable, judging by the amount of people who seemed to like it which I've talked to. I can think of why you like this scene, because there is a dumb digger and a smart digger, they are both simple persons but their minds think not alike, the combination of both of them and their dialogue lets us see that there is all this drama going on with Hamlet and the royal family and these two diggers really have no clue about what is going on. You might also like this scene because it shows how Hamlet, proven the most intelligent character of and by the play, can be at par with someone like a gravedigger. What I also think is that none of this is right, just my speculations, what I really think is that the reason why you like this scene is much more profound and yet I have no idea, probably I should know a little bit more about you. Anyways, those are the very simple and first thought ideas that I have regarding why you like the scene.
ReplyDeleteJ.P. Vallejo
Personaly i belive that you like this scene because it shows a disccusion between a smart grave digger and a dum one. Also I think that it shows the true drama of the movie and in some ways it reveals what is going to happen next. In all drama novels the main character must die or happen something bad to him so in this scene it talks about that thats way i think that you like this scene.
ReplyDeleteDiego Leon
This scene is certainly very revealing about Hamlet. First of all, once again it proves that Hamlet likes to mess around and play with the minds of people; though this time he is not so successful, for he tries to play a very clever gravedigger, and Hamlet ends up fooled. It also reveals to us that Hamlet had a normal life until recent, for we see pieces of his past where he was just another happy prince living it good. We do see that even though he was using Ophelia as a tool, he did desperately love her and cared about her.
ReplyDeleteI believe you like it because it has a very intelligent content. It deals with philosophy, which I think you enjoy. This philosophy is delivered by a mere peasant, though it is very deep piece. And this peasant has a very loyal friend, who is also very stupid and says he understands it when he does not. Anyways, the philosophy that the gravedigger has about his job and the theory about everyone ending up in the same place is something I think you like. Finally, these two gravediggers have some very complex thinking going on, but they also give you a laugh.
this scene reveals that hamlet always is trying to mess around with someone elses mind, and he always tries to make them look bad or stupid, but in this scene he encounters a clever gavedigger and tha gravedigger is very humanized and smart so he doesnt get to fool him.
ReplyDeletei think this is your favorite scene because its a scene were they talk about stuff that only certain people understand, and also talk about philosophy.
Carlos Perez
What I noticed from this scene is that sometimes people SEE what other people are intending to hide, and other people DONT see, or at least dont want to, what other people are trying to inform. Like Ophelia's family trying to hide the idea that Ophelia commited suicide by burrying her in the church's graveyard, thanks to the family's influences. As much as Ophelia's family tried to hide this secret, there are people, like the two gravediggers, that see whats going. I think this is trying to tell us that no matter how hard you try to hide a secret, sooner or later, people will see it.
ReplyDeleteThe gravediggers see what's going on, and have a conversation with Hamlet telling him that no matter how wealthy or powerful a person is, everybody ends up burried in the ground, at the same level. This is an example of how sometimes people Don't see what others are trying to inform/show. Hamlet's family ignores what other people are really saying and rather stick to the side of "dark secrets" that they think no one has a clue about them.
That is why I think this scene is one of your favorites.
Tamara Leon
Closed.
ReplyDelete-Mr. Paul
PS: Tamara ... that's quit deep.
You enjoy the scene because you identify yourself with the first grave-digger. Hopefully you're not comparing US to the second grave-digger, but I can vividly imagine you playing the first ones role. It's not hard to see you posing the exact same question regarding Ophelia's suicide, but towards our classroom instead.
ReplyDelete-Jerry Leon Cruz