Shakespeare's Hamlet vs. Mel Gibson's 1990

Shakespeare's Hamlet vs. Mel Gibson's 1990

Character and Characterization

Hamlet

In the movie, Hamlet was played spot- on in comparison to the book.
While a lot of dialogue's were switched around and changed, Hamlet attained all the character's attributes to that of the novel
Mel Gibson took on the role of Hamlet and made him come to life, at least from what I pictured him to be.

Fortinbras

In the original text, Fortinbras had a role to seek revenge on his father's death and gain back his once owned land.
In the end of the play, Hamlet decides it is Fortinbras who should have the throne. Fortinbras orders a funeral ceremony for Hamlet as a hero.
However, in the movie Fortinbras is completely absent and there is no mention of war with Denmark and Norway. His dialogues are cut in addition to the one's with Hamlet. The movie wasn't focused on war or battles, but rather on Hamlet himself, so this might be justified as to why it was cut.

"But I do prophesy th'election lights on Fortinbras. He has my dying voice" Hamlet (5.2.360-361)

Setting

Scenes

During the scene of the staged play set by Hamlet, Claudius is showing signs of guilt, and orders for the lights to be turned on and for everyone to leave. "Give me some light. Away" (3.2.263) However in the movie, Claudius stands up, and walks towards them laughing it off. He is bewildered and leaves. Hamlet gets extremely happy and dances with the actors, asking Horatio if he saw Claudius' reaction. Gertrude is shown watching Hamlet, confused.

Ophelia

In the play, it is Ophelia who tells her father Hamlet's love and madness and their confrontation.
"Mad for thy love?" Polonius asks Ophelia(2.1.84)
However in the movie, Ophelia does not tell Polonius of this, instead he spy's on them and from this the audience sees Hamlet's strange behaviour.
I concluded the director chose to have it that way so the movie wouldn't be too long and the audience can perceive how Hamlet looks to Polonius.
In Act 4 where Ophelia goes mad, her lines of singing have been cut in addition to Claudius' (4.5.50-70)

Costumes

In the original text, Hamlet wears dark clothes to mourn his father's death. "Neither my black clothes, my dear mother, nor my heavy sighs, nor my weeping, nor my downcast eyes, nor any other display of grief can show what I really feel" (1.2.77). In the movie as well, the audience can recognize his dark colour's throughout the film. Furthermore, all other character's costumes accurately fit the respective time period.

In the begging of the novel (Act 1, scene 1), Bernardo, Marcellus, and Horatio are on look- out duty. Marcellus and Berardo are trying to convince Horatio of them seeing a ghost exactly like the deceased king. Horatio does not believe them until it appears in armour. They think it is a bad omen and a sign of war with Denmark. While they attempt to speak to it, the ghost does not respond. The three character's then decide to tell Hamlet. In the begging of the movie, the scene is of the late king's funeral. People are gathered around his coffin, Gertrude can be seen crying and the uncle lays his sword down. Hamlet is present and shortly leaves after. It's unclear as to why the director chose to add his own scene instead of the original opening, however, it leads me to believe it gives more insight and clarity on the situation.

In Act 5 Scene 1, Ophelia is lying in her grave already when Hamlet professes his love for her. However, in the 1990 version, she is laying on a white bed; not in her grave yet.

Time Period/Place

Shakespeare's Hamlet was set in Denmark, during the middle ages. We can see this to be true in the movie as well where they use medieval castles to set the scene with corresponding village and props.

Theme

In addition to Fortinbras, Polonius' servant Reynaldo is also absent from the film.

It is also noted that the character's Rosezcrantz and Guildenstern make an appearance in the beginning of the novel. But in Mel Gibson's version they only appear in the somewhat middle, when the king, Claudius calls them to keep an eye on Hamlet.

Horatio
In the movie, Horatio becomes a type of background character. His presence and helpfulness is clearly lessened throughout the film

A big difference that can be recognized in the film, is Hamlet's famous line, "Get thee to a nunnery" (3.1.123). This dialogue was supposed to be delivered the same time Ophelia gave Hamlet back the gifts and turned him down. During this scene in Act 3, Claudius and Polonius were spying on them purposely, and Hamlet was mad at Ophelia. This scene was present in the movie, however, the dialogue was cut out. The lines 123- 126 were taken and added during the play being watched by Ophelia and Hamlet. It was delivered to Ophelia in a rather calming manner, instead of hateful and angry. It gave the audience the impression of Hamlet's love and fear of safety for Ophelia.

Madness

Gender

Revenge

Since Fortinbras was not displayed in the movie, the theme of war was not present. It is evident, however, the movie was mainly focused on Hamlet avenging the late kings death. One can further see this through Hamlet's display of madness, plotting, and seeking out justice for his father and mother at the end of the film. In Shakespeare's original, there are 3 revenge plots, each son wanting to avenge their father.

Throughout the novel and movie, the theme of madness is apparent. One can see this through the reoccurring display of Hamlet's madness and the character's questioning around him. The cause of his madness is mistaken by Polonius for Ophelia, when it was actually from his father's death and Claudius' involvement. There is also a clear amount of screen time dedicated to Ophelia's fit of madness, which in comparison to both the book and movie, is a similarity. In both the play and movie, it is a cause for change in Hamlet's relationship with everyone.

Gertrude

In the movie by Zeffirelli, Gertrude can be seen crying and grieving for her dead husband, while looking at Claudius.
Whereas in Shakespeare's original, Gertrude leaves a hairpin in the coffin.
In Zeffirelli's adaptation, one can see the queen acting overly enthusiastic and somewhat child like. In the original, she was written to appear as more reserved and mature older woman.

Hamlet's relationship with the two female character's are likewise in both the movie and original text. He is frustrated about his mother's marriage to Claudius and evidently displays his opposition to it. The fact that she got remarried quickly after his father's death only adds suspicion. With Ophelia, he is unaware of her obeying Polonius and is confused to her rejective behaviour. Ultimately, Hamlet felt betrayed and frustrated towards both women who seemingly let him down.

click to edit

In Act 5 scene 2, Rosezcrantz and Guildenstren ask Hamlet about Polonius' dead body and where he hid it. To which Hamlet replies, "The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body” (IV.ii.25–26). They escort Hamlet to Claudius. This does not happen in Zeffirelli's adaptation, instead Claudius asks Hamlet as the two friends and gaurds surround Hamlet when he answer's to their calling.

In Act 1 scene 2, Claudius address's a court full of people on his brother's death and new reign. It is here that Laertes asks permission to go back to France. Furthermore, Claudius asks Hamlet why he is still so sad and grieving. In Mel Gibson's movie, the conversation between Claudius and Laertes take's place privately somewhere other than a court. Hamlet, Gertrude, and Claudius also have their discussion in Hamlet's room.