Response to Course Material

Don't get me wrong, Hamlet and I are tight now. We're like BFF's. Yeah, it's pretty sweet. But we've finished studying up on him and his awesome life and are now moving on. Although, before we part, I would like to recognize the play one last time. I do have to say that I think this may be Shakespeare's greatest play. Yeah, you gotta love the classics, and I know that a bunch of people will either agree or disagree, but I think Shakespeare really had an idea with this one. The way he made the play was interesting because, while it was able to describe a story and plot with great imagery and allusions given (but only understood if one speaks Elizabethan English, which I must say I need to study up on,) it is also left open for much interpretation. It was interesting as we watched many renditions of the same scene, just seen differently by different directors. Whether it's because they wanted to make a point or because that is how they interpreted the scene, in each rendition the play still worked and made sense with the basic them gotten across. However, different styles did create different tones of scenes throughout the play, allowing for directors to have more freedom. I think that's an interesting thing that Shakespeare does, allowing for us to read something of his, but not everyone seeing it the same way. 

Alright. Love you Hamlet. Trust me, with AP's coming up, we'll stay in touch bro. 

So now we're starting to read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I actually really like. Tom Stoppard is very witty and cunning in his portrayal of these two characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet. By using the allusion to the final lines of Hamlet, Stoppard is already taking on a pretty hefty role: if you're going to make allusions, especially specific ones like what you just did, then dude, you best do well and make the Bard proud. What's really interesting about the play is that it has lots of meaning and actual sense to it, but it's hidden behind this exterior screen, where if one didn't look hard enough, he'd miss the concepts Stoppard is trying to get across. The well-hidden meanings in the play make finding them even more meaningful and more fun to read. I especially enjoy the banter between the characters. 'Tis a jolly good time indeed.