The Murder of Gonzago a.k.a. The Mousetrap
Watch Act III, Scene ii (The Mousetrap). You’ll watch, read along, and take notes on three different film versions of the Mousetrap.
The first version, which is unabridged, is directed by Kenneth Branagh. Branagh plays Hamlet and Kate Winslet plays Ophelia. This version is set during the Victorian period (19th century).
The second version is directed by Franco Zeffirelli (who also directed the older version of Romeo and Juliet that some of you may have seen). Mel Gibson plays Hamlet and Helena Bonham Carter (who plays Elizabeth in Branagh’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein) plays Ophelia. This abridged version is set during the late medieval or early renaissance period. (Here's the abridgment using the line numbers in your book: Player King, lines 176-181; Player Queen 200-203; Hamlet 204; Player Queen 245-246; Hamlet 247; King 256; Hamlet 257; King 260; Hamlet 261 and 268 (but not the lines in between). The rest is what you saw in class before the interviewing seminar.)
The third version, also abridged, is directed by Michael Almereyda. Ethan Hawke plays Hamlet and Julia Stiles plays Ophelia. Almereyda sets his Hamlet in mid-1990s Manhattan.
Write a one page response to the three versions of the Mousetrap. Be specific and insightful. Show an awareness of what lines are cut out of the abridged versions. Show an awareness of the different ways the three directors stage the “Mousetrap”. Think about the ways that each version is faithful to the time period in which it is set. Think about the behavior and reactions of each character, especially the three Claudiuses and the three Hamlets but differences in the Ophelias and the Gertrudes are interesting too. Be opinionated. Which “Mousetrap” is most powerful? Most effective? Which is most faithful to Shakespeare’s Hamlet? Explain. Which version do you prefer? Which version do you abhor? Why?
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In Bragnah’s version of Hamlet the setting is a Victorian manor and this is the only version of the three Hamlets that is not abridged. In Zeffirelli’s version of Hamlet the setting is during the late medieval or early renaissance period and this version of the mousetrap is abridged. Lastly Almereyda’s version of Hamlet is set in Manhattan in the mid 1990’s. Each version has specific assets that make each version interesting and faithful to Shakespeare’s version. In every version the characters are played differently. The different versions of the mousetrap also help to add to the effectiveness of the movie. Each movie is good and allows for a different aspect of Shakespeare’s original version of Hamlet.
Bragnah’s version Hamlet seems to be completely crazy. As he says his speech he does so in an over the top manner. As he speaks to Ophelia she seems really nervous in this version. When Hamlet says,” Lady shall I lie in your lap.” Ophelia looks shyly away and responds quietly with, “No, my lord.” As they continue this exchange Ophelia seems to become more uncomfortable as Hamlet becomes louder and more sarcastic which in turns draws more attention to them especially be Claudius and the queen when Hamlet says,”O God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but be merry? For look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within ‘s two hours.” Hamlet with such sarcasm and venom, that one can almost feel the slap of the words across Claudius face. The king and queen also do not pay much attention to the play until the talk of getting a second husband comes along which draws their attention. When the player king dies everyone briefly glances at the person they are suppose to be spying on. This shows the deception of people and the king seems shocked at the play and the queen is shocked at the actions within the play. As Claudius and the queen look into the abyss Hamlet moves towards the stage to congratulate the players. Then Claudius gets abruptly demanding air and Hamlet stands there staring at Ophelia.
In the Zeffirelli version it starts with Hamlet talking to Horatio about helping him spy on his uncle. After Polonius makes his speech about the actors Hamlet goes up to talk to him and asks about when he was an actor. Hamlet responds to the statement saying,”It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there. -- Be the players?” In this version Claudius laughs at this statement and continues to laugh as he greets Hamlet. Ophelia seems distant in this version as though Hamlets actions have no affect on her until the end. When Hamlet lays his head in her lap and says,” I mean, my head upon your lap?” Ophelia looks straight ahead into the distant and says very emotionless, “Ay, my lord.” Hamlet seems really sarcastic and crazy in this version. When he talks of the father (see quote in the previous paragraph) his mother and Claudius spare him only a brief glance and Ophelia gives him a look as though asking him with her eyes if he is crazy. In this version the play does not start away there is flamethrowers and as the audience watches this Hamlet begins to whisper his speech from act two, scene two to Ophelia. As Claudius and the queen watch the play the king begins to shift in his seat as he realizes what the play is truly about and the queen breathes heavily as she watches the love between the player king and queen. Hamlet also sings with the actor and as speeches are given by the actors Hamlet reaches over to talk to Claudius in an attempt to gauge his reaction. As player Claudius kills the player king Hamlet comes to stand behind the real king and queen so he can better see the reaction of Claudius. Claudius rises and begins to walk towards the stage as though trapped in the memory of himself killing the old king and points at the actor. Then he screams that he needs light and leaves. Hamlet goes over to Ophelia and whispers “We are arrant knaves all: believe none of us.” He kisses Ophelia and leaves. This play is faithful to the time period and to the original Shakespeare version because the player queen is played by a man.
The Almereyda version starts the same as the Zeffirelli version with Hamlet off to the side talking to Horatio. In this version Ophelia is much more defensive. Hamlet however seems to be a cocky fool in this version. When Hamlet says,” Lady shall I lie in your lap.” He actually jumps over the seat in the movie theater and sits in Ophelia’s lap with a large smile. Ophelia looks at him with disdain and says,”No, my lord.” and then she pushes Hamlet off her lap. He gives Ophelia a large smile and sits in the seat next to her and steals a glimpse back at Claudius and the queen. Hamlet looks directly at king when they make greetings and Hamlet says his response with pure response. The confrontation goes like this,”(king) How fares our cousin Hamlet? (Hamlet) Excellent i’ faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so.” The movie starts with a rose blooming which is ironic because that symbolizes life while the whole movie is about death and more specifically Hamlet’s father. In the movie it looks as though it includes home video which allows for the movie to become more personal and allows for Claudius to see that the movie is about his action. The part where Claudius is cartoon because at this point Hamlet is not sure if the ghost words are true, but also so that he can gauge Claudius reaction to the murder scene. Hamlet can tell that Claudius is becoming more panicked because of how the director has Claudius perform his body language. In the movie the eras change to show that this is a classic murder that happens through the ages and that Hamlet will find out the truth. Claudius and Hamlet stand and Claudius screams that he needs light the queen rushes out after him. The queen also seems to be shocked by the movie and she seems to know what is going on.
The Hamlet that is most effective is Zeffirelli’s version was most powerful. It was most powerful because it really stuck close to the Shakespeare version. The behaviors of the actors seem to be what Shakespeare was trying to convey within his writing. Also their idea of the player queen being played by a man made the version even stronger and gave it something that the other tow movies did not have. Though Zeffirelli’s version was the most powerful I prefer the Almereyda version. I like this version because it gives such a new and fresh perspective on Hamlet. I also think it is a lot more relatable to now because it happen in so close to now that we understand everything that is going on even if it is old English due to the actors body language and the use of modern technology. The version that I absolutely hate is the Branagh version because it seems as though the movie would be better suited for the stage and should not have been made into movie. I also dislike it because of the time period it is set in and how he uses more symbols to represent themes instead of being more open about them. The mousetrap that is most powerful is the Zefferelli version because it is set up so that the audience (us) and Claudius can easily distinguish that it is about him. This is done by the body language used by the players and how the players look at Claudius and the queen as they talk about the murder.
Tom Martin
The three film versions of “The Mousetrap” were all very interesting in their portrayal of the Murder of Gonzago, which is a portrayal of the murder of King Hamlet by Claudius. All were dedicated to their respective settings and thus staged The Mousetrap accordingly. Yet several differences lie between the three films, such as the presentation of the play, the lines spoken, and the character’s behavior and reactions.
Brannagh’s film presented an elaborate theatrical performance, in a beautiful Victorian age theater. The performance on stage was set to the appropriate time period. Also, the entire scene was very faithful to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, being unabridged. All the lines were spoken and the actions of the characters were presented in a very similar manner as in the original play. Their behavior stuck to Shakespeare’s work pretty well. Hamlet in this production was shown as very hyperactive, almost a clear definition of a lunatic. He spoke very quickly, loudly, and portrayed as obscene to the rest of the audience. Not only did he show immense disrespect to a solemn Ophelia, but he also showed a great deal of anger and rage throughout the play at his mother and his uncle. His statement shown through the play on stage was very clear to Claudius. Claudius showed a reaction of great disgust, anger, shame, and wrath. He left the theater abruptly after seeing how Hamlet had portrayed him through his counterpart character. Gertrude seen here seemed very confused, quiet, and grave. While there was a small sense of shock after understanding Hamlet’s intentions, she was mostly left speechless. I believe this version of “The Mousetrap” is most powerful and most effective. It definitely sparked very illustrated reactions among the characters and it stuck to both the time period and setting well. Also, being the only unabridged version, it was most faithful to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. For these reasons, I preferred this portrayal the most, as it was the most committed to an honest and complete portrayal.
The Zeffirelli version sticks very close to its medieval time period, with even the Player Queen being portrayed by a man. However, this version is abridged, and had several speeches and dialogue switched around, such as Hamlet’s conversation with Horatio talking about spying on Claudius and Hamlet reciting his speech from Act 2 Scene 2 to Ophelia during the play. Other than that, most of the behavior presented in Shakespeare’s Hamlet was portrayed the same. Ophelia seemed a bit more distant though, not really caring about Hamlet’s unruly actions. Hamlet however still seemed a bit crazy and enraged with fury concerning his uncle’s deeds, especially as he sees them being portrayed on stage. Claudius and Gertrude however show very uncomfortable behavior as they begin to understand what the play is about. They are clearly unsettled about it, especially Claudius. The rest of the scene goes about in a similar manner, with Claudius leaving in a fit and Hamlet feeling satisfied for his actions. This version definitely was faithful to the time period, but I felt it was a bit blasé and confusing to follow. Also, the fact that they took out several lines from the original scene made it not entirely faithful to Shakespeare’s work and thus it took away certain important aspects to the scene, which is why I wasn’t too fond of this version. It was a little too dull, dark, and dreary.
The Almereyda version was a very interesting portrayal of The Mousetrap. It was dedicated to its setting and time period, as instead of a play, The Mousetrap was a movie produced by Hamlet. The movie was very captivating and intriguing. The metaphors such as the ironic blooming rose definitely caught attention. Also the different animations mashed together to portray King Hamlet’s murder, such as the home movies and the poison being dropped into the ear were an interesting touch. Though I feel this version didn’t stick very much to the original piece at all. For one there were very little words in the movie, if I remember correctly, there were none spoken. It was all visual, though there was emphasis enhancing background music. Though I feel the fact that none of the player’s lines were spoken took away from the true meaning of The Mousetrap. Also, the characters reactions were quite different in this movie. Ophelia seemed disgusted by Hamlet’s behavior, which happened to be very laid back, a relaxed attitude as opposed to the more energized portrayals. Claudius and Gertrude seemed to be just strict, uptight people who aren’t too fond of uncomfortable situations. The whole modern version scene of “The Mousetrap” scene was very relaxed, quiet, overall not very exciting. It was also abridged, therefore it did not stick to the original Shakespeare script. However it was dedicated to the setting, with it being in a movie theater and all other details were modernized. While this was a very easy version to follow, and I did find it interesting, it wasn’t the most effective and committed version of “The Mousetrap”
Due to its faithfulness to Shakespeare’s work and it’s setting, along with its energetic presentation, Brannagh’s film was the most effective and dedicated of the three.
I believe that Kenneth Branagh’s version of “the mousetrap” is most faithful to the text in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. The portrayal of Hamlet’s eccentric behavior shows his troubled emotions, and that he is partly crazy. Hamlet does pretend to be crazy to fool others, but sometimes it appears it is actually Hamlet speaking his mind not being crazy, he says in his second soliloquy “But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit”. Meaning that by pretending so passionately feelings or emotions it is possible to begin to believe whatever you are pretending to be feeling. Also Hamlet seemed the most devious and cleverly mischievous in this version of “the mousetrap” in other versions he didn’t seem as devious so I feel that Branagh’s version represented Hamlet’s character well. Also Hamlet’s erratic behavior in this version seemed to make it the most powerful, Branagh did a good job of making it seem like Hamlet was truly crazy and out of control. Last in the play in this version I liked how the scene that was showed was about the lovers and how the woman would never remarry, she only loved the man who was dying. This last detail pounded in the meaning of the scene, and made it seem the best representation of “the mousetrap” in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”.
All three films of the Mouse Trap were very interesting and exciting and showed the murder of Gonzago in a different way, although, each film showed different behavior, presentations, and reactions throughout.
In Brannagh’s film, it is more of a theatre performance than the other ones and is set in more of the presented time period. All the characters spoke and the audience seemed to enjoy it. When Hamlet asks Ophelia if he can rest his head in her lap she says, “No my lord” in a soft and quiet tone of voice. On the other hand, Hamlet is obnoxious and extremely loud and the audience seemed kind of annoyed. He talked very fast and seemed so rambunctious. During the performance, he showed anger and rage toward his uncle and mother and once the performance got to the part where the king dies, his mother and uncle seemed in complete horror and shock. Everyone started to look at each other and started to whisper to each other in a confused look. Claudius spoke in a low and relaxed tone and says, “Give me some light.”
I think that his play was the most effective out of the three because it was played in the better time period and it portrayed the version of Shakespeare the best.
The Almereyda film was very different from the other two. This one was actually a movie that Hamlet had made. The movie had actual home videos in it and then it had animated things in it like the murder of the king. There was no talking or characters in it, and there were no voices. In the beginning Hamlet talked a lot slower than the first film and Ophelia asks more disgusted toward him than more quiet. Ophelia pushes him off of her lap instead of waiting for him to get off himself. Hamlet watches Claudius and his mother throughout the whole movie. Claudius seemed panicked and confused during the murder scene. His mother knows what is going on once his uncle runs out of the theatre.
The Zeffirelli film was also different than the other two. Some speeches were also moved around though because Hamlet says stuff to Ophelia that he said to her in Act 2 in the novel. Hamlet acts more normal but Ophelia just doesn’t seem to care what he does or says. Once Hamlet asks if he can lie in her lap he just stays there and Ophelia doesn’t really seem to care that he is there even though she said no. Hamlet has the conversation with her about going to a nunnery which the other two didn’t have. During the murder scene Claudius gets very upset and his reaction is much different. He is extremely furious and gets up from his seat and screams “Give me some light.”
Of the three versions of Hamlet’s Mousetrap I liked the one within Franco Zeffirelli’s version of Hamlet the best. I also thought that this version was the best version because I believe that his stayed closest to the book and it also is the most powerful. Zeffirelli’s Mouse Trap is dark and it gets the real Claudius to stand up the most realistically because the murder scene is presented in such a way that would make him stand. Claudius is presented in this play the way that Hamlet would best describe him as well, because Hamlet hates Claudius and he presents him as old and ugly. It is presented as a play that could be taken serious.
The Kenneth Branagh version also conveys the message well about how the mousetrap should be and it stays true to its time period. The play itself was hard to understand and the characters played didn’t seem to be as true to the real characters as in Zeffereli’s. I thought that the darkness of the play in Zeffereli’s version of Mouse Trap made it more realistic for the message it was trying to convey than Branagh’s version. They both sent the message that Claudius was being targeted for murder, however.
The final and third version of Mouse trap stayed true to the period it was representing. I didn’t like this version because it was eccentric and it didn’t seem like the type of thing that Hamlet would have intended for it to be. Almereyda’s version made me think about the story in a broader sense. I didn’t like how they had it as a still framed movie, however, because there was not able to be any characters to act out Hamlet and Claudius. All three of these versions of Mouse Trap are able to convey the basic message, but some were able to better than others.
Each version of Hamlet shown in class had their own way of portraying Hamlet’s play, “The Mousetrap.” The settings of the three interpretations were all completely different from eachother which then contributes to the way in which the director choose to reveal the text’s meaning. In the Kenneth Branagh version, the setting took place in a Victorian theatre. The whole scene was very comical and illustrative with Hamlet as Branagh being very animated. Throughout this version, Hamlet was very loud and gesticulates all of his feelings towards the situation. During the film, Branagh kept making constant glances at his mother and stepfather’s reactions to see if they could understand what his play was really about. It seemed like Gertrude’s expression was that of being very alarmed, and Hamlet definitely accomplished the act of humiliating and mocking his mother. The way Claudius reacted however was somewhat different. He too seemed stricken from what he was watching, but at the end of the scene he abruptly stood up, which then caused the rest of the audience to stand up. Ordering them to leave after asking for light, Claudius’s reaction satisfied Hamlet’s intentions. In this version, Ophelia’s reaction is also something to consider. She seems very shy and embarrassed when Hamlet speaks to her, and overall it seems like Hamlet has gone completely mad in this version. He over emphasizes every circumstance and though this edition is probably the most comical, it doesn’t reveal the meaning that Shakespeare is ultimately trying to portray.
The next version shown in class was the one starring Ethan Hawke. The setting of this one took place in a movie theatre. Like the other version, Hamlet kept making repeated glances to see the reactions of his parents. He, of course wanted to get out that his uncle was the one who killed his father. Claudius’s reaction in this one was similar to the previous version, in that he stood up when he saw his secret revealed. Instead of telling everyone to leave, he left which also pleased Hamlets objectives. Ophelia also reacts in a distinct way. She seems offended that Hamlet is even talking to her, and doesn’t seem happy with the situation. Hamlet is sitting there next to her however with a big smile on his face and completely content with what film everyone else is about to see. As the movie begins, a rose buds which here can symbolize new life. However, when it shows Hamlet’s father dying, the rose later wilts which then leads up to Claudius also yelling for “light” then leaving the room. This interpretation is better at portraying the meaning of the text than the previous film, but the final film shown in class with Mel Gibson was the most convincing.
The last version shown in class starred Mel Gibson. It first began with him talking to his close friend Horatio. Though, this isn’t along the lines of the actual book, Polonius then gives his speech concerning the actors Hamlet has chosen. The setting of this interpretation takes place in a courtyard. The stage is set up and the whole scene gives of a strong Elizabethan vibe. Ophelia in this version is different to the Ophelias in the other two movies. She seemed very taken to Hamlet and was almost flirting back when he was speaking with her. When Hamlet says to her to go to a nunnery, she finds it dryly humorous but later clears her mind and focuses on the play Hamlet has created. As the play progressed, the reaction of Claudius and the Queen were also significant. Claudius saw who was to be himself killing the king. They way he reacted were different to the other two Claudius’s in which he broke out in hysterical laughter at what he was seeing. Although this is the case, he did too however leave after asking for light. Out of these three, this version was the most favored for its unique way in portraying the “Mousetrap” scene, better known as The Murder of Gonzago and how Zeffirelli portrayed the qualities of the actors.
All three versions of Hamlet’s “Mousetrap” portray the scene differently. In Kenneth Branagh’s version, there are no lines missing and it is set in a Victorian manor. In the version with Mel Gibson, there are some lines that are cut out. There are also lines missing in Michael Almereyda’s version with Ethan Hawke playing Hamlet. This adaptation is set in the 1990.
The way Branagh portrays Hamlet is a lot more insane than the other two. It isn’t as witty as it should come across, it is more like he is tweaking out. Branagh talks very vast, making it hard to understand the lines. This was the longest version of the Mousetrap. Although it stuck to the actual lines in Hamlet, I thought the play was very long and boring compared to the other two. This, in effect, made Claudius’s reaction seem less intense because it was slower and drawn out. In this version, Ophelia is timid around Hamlet. Hamlet was a lot more disrespectful towards her and she didn’t seem too offended, just shy.
In Zeffirelli’s depiction of the Mousetrap scene is very close to what Shakespeare might have imagined for the scene. The actual play was short, sweet, and to the point because it didn’t have any of the lines that were supposed to be in the play. I thought it was effective because it still got the same reaction out of Claudius without being too long and boring. In this version, Ophelia doesn’t seem to care about what Hamlet is saying to her. She has no emotion when she delivers the line “Ay, my lord”. Mel Gibson portrayed Hamlet as witty and sarcastic. Claudius’s reaction was the most intense in this one. He slowly walks up to the stage, mesmerized the guilt triggered from what his is seeing. Finally, he screams “Give me some light!” and exits the room.
In the Almereyda version, Hamlet’s Mousetrap was a movie that he created, which is obviously different than the play. When Hamlet delivered the line “Lady shall I lie in your lap”, she seems more offended than in the other portrayals. I think that the more modern version of the Mousetrap was easy to follow because it was very straightforward. The movie starts out with a rose, to symbolize life. I thought it was clever to add what seemed like a home movie to the Mousetrap because it made it more personal for Claudius. At the end, the rose withers, to show the end of life. Throughout the movie, Hamlet and Horatio are watching Claudius’s reaction. Claudius rises and announced very panicky that he needs light.
I think that Zeffirelli’s version of the mousetrap is the most effective. Even thought it doesn’t follow the same lines as in the book, I think that it gets the same point across. I thought the way Mel Gibson played Hamlet was the most true to the book because I always saw Hamlet as witty and funny, and the other versions portrayed Hamlet too seriously. I also thought Claudius’s reaction was the best in this version. His reaction in the book is very vague, which leaves it up to the director’s imagination. I thought that it was the most intense and revealing reaction of them all and I think that his reaction should be as intense and revealing as possible. I also like that it stuck close to the original setting and the reactions from characters seemed to be fitting. I didn’t really like Branagh’s version because Hamlet spoke way too fast and loud and I thought that Branagh got Hamlet’s emotion wrong. I feel that he made Hamlet seem too angry in this version when he should have been witty. I also didn’t like the actual play in it and I thought Claudius’s reaction was sub-par.
The three different portrayals of “The Mousetrap” all had their own way of showing what happens in Hamlet. Branagh’s version best connected with how it is written in the book. The way Hamlet speaks to Ophelia is well related to how it comes across in the book. He yells everything so that everyone is able to hear him and he takes away from the play that is being performed. Ophelia answers him quietly and their conversation is spoken very quickly without many pauses. Hamlet almost seems crazy and as if he wants to get a point across. During the play Hamlet’s mother and uncle look very guilty. Especially during the scene where the woman is talking to her husband saying she will never remarry even though her husband is dying. The two seemed to get the feeling that Hamlet was not happy about what they had done. Instead of showing the murder of his father in the play, Hamlet starts yelling about it to the audience, but mainly looking at his uncle. Claudius looks very guilty and then walks out in rage not knowing what else to do. This version best portrays how this scene would have been acted out.
The Almereyda version of “The Mousetrap” relates to how something from Hamlet may be done today. Instead of a play Hamlet makes a movie. In the movie Hamlet is shown as a little boy. This shows how great Hamlet saw life as a kid when his father was still alive and why he was so hurt when his mother moved on so quickly after his death. The movie showed how disgusting he saw his mother and her sexuality.
The version with Mel Gibson showed the queen pretending not to be aware of all the things Hamlet was saying. She seemed somewhat guilty watching the play. When Hamlet and Ophelia are speaking it seems best fit to how it would be done in Hamlet. Hamlet is not too lout and neither is Ophelia. Ophelia seems a bit offended by what Hamlet is saying, but it does not phase her completely. Overall the version that best portrayed “The Mousetrap” was Branagh’s version.
The three films portraying the mousetrap were all quite intriguing in the way in which they all differed in the portrayal of the mousetrap scene.
The Mel Gibson Hamlet was done well because of the scenery and the rambunctious antics of Hamlet. At one point Mel Gibson actually places his head on the lap of Ophelia. Also as the play went on there was a lot of camera focus toward Ophelia then the queen or Claudius. At the beginning it portrayed Claudius as a drunk and boisterous man as well, who even gave cheer to Hamlet with a rosy red smile on his face. Then when the whole play ended Claudius’ reaction was that of a very guilty suspect. He ran to the front of the stage very slack-jawed with Mel hopping over the seats to get a good look at his face. Then stumbling with his words he asked for some light.
The Ethan Hawke version was a very entertaining bit because it takes place in prsent times. One thing that I really enjoyed about this version was the abstract movie that Hamlet made, in which it depicts a child going to bed on Christmas morning thinking that everything will be fine and dandy in the morning with father tucking him in, and expecting a surprise in the morning. This is applied to Hamlets situation because it shows how short of time Hamlet feels that his mother and uncle got together after his father’s death, almost as if he went to bed and woke up the next morning only to find that his fathers death had been forgotten. The movie also shows the world turning in reverse. This is because everything that Hamlet is living in personal hell in which some of his ideals and moraleshave been flipped, (or reversed). Hamlet is also more reserved when he is talking to Ophelia. Claudius’ reaction is very suspicious as well he storms out pushing people along the way.
The Kenneth Branagh one was in my opinion the best. It showed Hamlet acting ludicrously in front of Ophelia and Polonius and Hamlet was being very boisterous, often looking back at his mother and Claudius. It also did a good rendition of the play with the actor stating to his wife that he did not want her to move on after he died. The scene stayed true to the book as well where as Mel Gibson’s version had stuff moved around. I feel like Claudius‘ reaction was well displayed as well for it didn’t really show if he was guilty of murder or not it just showed him comly walking to the front and then saying he needed some air.
Gilbert Brown
All three versions of the Murder of Gonzago aka mousetrap brought something unique and insightful to the meaning of the scene. The Kenneth Branagh version is unabridged and set in the Victorian period (19th century). In Franco Zeffirelli’s version the setting takes place during the late medieval or early renaissance period and is abridged. Finally the third version is directed by Michael Almereyda starring Ethan Hawke is set in the mid-1990’s Manhattan and is abridged. In each of the three versions Hamlet is played a little bit differently but also stays faithful to Shakespeare’s version and the time which each was set.
In Branaghs version Hamlet is out of control. Most of Hamlets sarcasm in this version is directed towards his mother and Claudius. But when he says to Ophelia “Do you think I meant country matters?” she quickly and nervously says “I think nothing, my lord.” As the play progresses Ophelia begins to get more and more uncomfortable because Hamlet is drawing more and more attention towards them with his loud sarcastic remarks. It seems to me that after Hamlet responds to Ophelia’s accusation of being merry, “O God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but be merry? For look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within ‘s two hours.” Everyone in the room seems to pick up the inner plot of the mousetrap. When the player king dies everyone glances up to Claudius (the people who were supposed to be spying on him or just simply questioning the meaning of the play) and he starts nervously glancing around.
Gertrude is shocked and appalled at this because Hamlet is implying that Claudius murdered Hamlets father and took the throne. When Hamlet goes to congratulate the players Claudius suddenly demands that he receives air and in a piercing gaze he stares at Ophelia.
In the Franco Zeffirelli version Hamlet seems mad and fit for the loony bin. The scene starts with Hamlet asking Horatio to help him spy on Claudius. . Ophelia seems distant in this version as though Hamlets actions have no affect on her until the end. When Hamlet lays his head in her lap and says,” I mean, my head upon your lap?” Ophelia looks straight ahead into the distant and says very emotionless, “Ay, my lord.” As Claudius and the queen watch the play the king begins to shift in his seat as he realizes what the plays meaning is really about and the queen breathes heavily as she watches the love between the player king and queen. Hamlet also sings with the actors as speeches are given by the actors Hamlet reaches over to talk to Claudius in an attempt to gauge his reaction. As player Claudius kills the player king Hamlet comes to stand behind the real king and queen so he can better see the reaction of Claudius. Claudius rises and begins to walk towards the stage as if in a daze, trapped in the memory of him killing the old king and points at the actor. Then he screams that he needs light and leaves. This play is faithful to the time period and to the original Shakespeare version because the player queen is played by a man. I feel this depiction of the mousetrap is most effective because Hamlets insane actions make Claudius more nervous and stimulate his guilty actions in his mind.
In the Almereydas version Hamlets actions are portrayed differently. The scene starts of the same as the Zeffirelli version because he asks Horatio to help him spy on Claudius. One of the many differences in the scene was the fact that Hamlet kept his opening statements between himself and Ophelia. For example the head in the lap and his response to Ophelia saying his merry (look at paragraphs above for quotes) to try and fill Claudius with some inner guilt before the play. So that was one thing that didn’t stick to Shakespeare’s version. Another aspect that did not adhere to Shakespeare’s version was the fact that the play transformed into a movie and there were no words at all. Even though it is supposed to be a modern Hamlet and you can come to the same conclusion by watching the film, I feel with actors there is more drama and emotions to depict the meaning of the scene. The player’s lines really help to emphasize the true meaning of the “Mouse Trap”. Ophelia’s was disgusted by his behavior but it wasn’t based on Hamlets craziness which is not apparent in this version he is pretty laid back compared to the other two portrayals. One thing that was ironic was the way the movie started with a flower blossoming which symbolizes new life and the movie is actually about murder and death. All the different arrays and pictures in the movie were effective in stirring emotions inside Claudius. Upon seeing the film Claudius abruptly rises and demands light and proceeds to rush out of the theatre. Gertrude races after him and gives Hamlet a suspicious look almost as if she knows what he was up to.
The mousetrap I found most powerful was the Franco Zeffirelli version because it followed the Shakespeare’s version the closest. The actors in the play really brought out the feelings and sins in Claudius by their excellent body language and emotions. It was also really faithful to Shakespeare’s hamlet because a male played the female role. Although I did like the Almereyda version because it was a modern version that was easy to relate to. It just didn’t have the same emotion and meaning as the play with actors where you can see the physical body language and emotions in them. The version that I dislike the most is the Branagh one. I don’t like it because he is very loud and obnoxious which takes away from the actors in “The Mousetrap”. The most powerful “Mousetrap” is Zeffirelli because it isn’t hard to decipher and we the audience can fully understand the inner plot behind the play.
In the three different mousetraps, there are noticeable and significant differences. There is the unabridged, Victorian set, Kenneth Branagh version of the mousetrap. There is also the abridged Zeffirelli version set in medieval times. Finally, there is Almereyda’s version set in 2000 in Manhattan.
Although Branagh’s version isn’t abridged, I do not feel it is very faithful to Shakespeare’s intent, in my best interpretation. I did not feel, when I was reading it, that Hamlet would want to make Hamlet’s sarcasm public to the whole crowd. I do think he would have said it loud enough for Claudius to hear it, but he did not want to make it public because it would seem more like a show with an ulterior motive, as opposed to a performance for enjoyment. I did think that the role of Polonius was portrayed well in the Branagh version, because he was quiet and nervous, but this held relatively true for all of the versions. I felt that this version’s Claudius should have made more of a scene also. I do feel that the actress who plays Ophelia in the Branagh version does the best job capturing her emotions. There isn’t as much interpretation in this part, so most of the importance of actress is involved in gauging the emotions. I liked how she gauged the embarrassment that Branagh was putting her through as he made his sarcastic remarks increasingly public. Even though word for word, this is the most accurate version of the mousetrap scene, of all the different versions I dislike this one the most, simply for how differently I interpreted the scene.
Zeffirelli’s version has to be the most altered from the Second Quarto version of Hamlet. It is an interesting take, to move the “nunnery” confrontation between Hamlet and Ophelia to after Hamlet asks Ophelia to put his head on her lap. As different as it is, it did makes sense as to the shift in affections. Otherwise, I had wondered why Ophelia was so quick to even entertain Hamlet’s presence after the tongue-lashing he had given her not long before. I also felt the way Hamlet presented the sarcasm was perfect and appropriate. Claudius’ reaction was interesting, in that he seemed to lose control and then regain it and play it off like its nothing. I think the interpretation of Hamlet himself is best in this version, and thus it is also my favorite. Mel Gibson does well to continue the illusion of Hamlet’s fake insanity. I did not much care for how this version’s Ophelia interpreted the emotions. I felt she was more dismissive than the Ophelia I had interpreted. I felt this version was the most affective.
Finally, Almereyda’s version is always a very interesting take, simply because it is so strange and uncomfortable for us in modern society to see a setting of modern day while having words of a very old Englishman. In that, this is the only version we saw where the mousetrap was not a play. In this version it was actually a movie. I felt this one was somewhere in between the two prior versions. Hamlet’s sarcasm was not made into a scene, but it also did not present the seed in Claudius’ head I felt Shakespeare had intended. The actually mousetrap is very odd. It shows again the obsession with life and death in the flower imagery. The sexual obsessions throughout are also present in a few scenes. I felt this version was very powerful, because of the intense imagery. Also, Claudius’ reaction I felt was appropriate because everyone could tell something was going on but only Hamlet and Horatio knew what. That being said, it was so unrealistic for me that that version of the mousetrap would affect anyone so harshly, that it did not appeal to me very much. I always have a desire for a certain amount of realism, although I know this was not illusion theater.
The three versions of the mousetrap were all loyal to their time periods. Branaghs took place in a 18th century theatre. Ethan Hawke took place in a present day theatre, and Mels took place in a hall of a castle. In the Mel Gibson version hamlet and Ophelia had the “nunnery speech” in the middle of the play which I found interesting. The play started off with jesters which were very appropriate for the time period. I liked how during the play hamlet was talking to the king and queen making them uncomfortable. Also Claudius was very erratic when he saw the play and rushed out of the hall hysterical. In the Ethan Hawke version his play was actually a silent movie. And he was constantly looking back at the king to see his reaction. Ophelia acted very fed up with hamlet and was constantly asking questions. The king left as abruptly as the other kings but was a little bit quieter about it. I personally thought that the Branagh version of the mousetrap was the most accurate and the most well done. It made out hamlet to be a real fan of the play, which he was, and it captured his emotions perfectly. Hamlet was very loud and boisterous during the play. He also had jumped into the play just as he did in the book. The emotions of Ophelia were very accurate as she tried to keep everything calm and quiet. The whole audience goes into an uproar when the king storms out yelling. The Branagh version was the best and the most powerful of the three. Then the Mel version was second because it was most accurate for the time period. The Ethan Hawke version I didn’t like at all. It was boring and not as accurate. I also can not get my head around the time period, it just doesn’t fit Hamlet.
t Weaver
3/21/10
E Block
All three versions of Hamlets "mousetrap" were unique representations of
what Shakespeare originally wrote, to say the least. The three versions were pitiful though, and this is truly dishearting after three pretty good "to be or not to be" speeches. I will explain later on why I feel this way, but first though we must address the fact that the three versions are not all the same (setting, time period, and script wise).
The first version we watched was the one featuring Kenneth Brannon, and was unabridged. It takes place in the 1800's and features a plain old creepy Hamlet. The second version shown was the one featuring Ethan Hawke which takes place in a post Y2K world and features a tortured artist as our loyal protagonist. This leaves us with Mel Gibson. Luckily this does take place in the right time period, allowing the reader to focus on what and the actors are saying and how.
The first version, featuring Kenneth Brannon, is very extravagant. Probably the most powerful of the three, this version is borderline ridiculous. Hamlet is screaming ever word he says, throwing caution to the wind when referring to how his father has been dead 'two hours' or talking about how he would like to lay between Ophelia’s legs. It is not just Hamlet that is ridiculously over the top, both Polonius and the King are loud, making it hard to believe that they were able to plot the murder of King Hamlet, for if they had wouldn't they be more cautious with what and how they say things? And what about the "give me light" speech, would a composed king really charge the stage in such a manner (but to be fair he did do this in all three versions of the 'Mousetrap').
The second version with Ethan Hawke was slightly more realistic (despite the fact that it takes place in the modern era). There is a little less commotion and is a little less powerful than the other two because of that fact. It is though hard to take the scene seriously because it is set in modern are. I did like the reaction by ‘the king’ because it was much more subtitle.
The Mel Gibson version was well, ok. It had the same overly enthusiastic Hamlet and company, but was still more conservative than the Brannon version, but that is not that hard to do. What I particularly noticed was that the nunnery speech was present there, which made the whole clip less reliable because something was taken out of context.
Overall all three clips were unique and yet somehow managed to be consistent with one another. I did not like any of them, and thought that the directors over played the emotions in the scene.
t Weaver
3/21/10
E Block
All three versions of Hamlets "mousetrap" were unique representations of
what Shakespeare originally wrote, to say the least. The three versions were pitiful though, and this is truly dishearting after three pretty good "to be or not to be" speeches. I will explain later on why I feel this way, but first though we must address the fact that the three versions are not all the same (setting, time period, and script wise).
The first version we watched was the one featuring Kenneth Brannon, and was unabridged. It takes place in the 1800's and features a plain old creepy Hamlet. The second version shown was the one featuring Ethan Hawke which takes place in a post Y2K world and features a tortured artist as our loyal protagonist. This leaves us with Mel Gibson. Luckily this does take place in the right time period, allowing the reader to focus on what and the actors are saying and how.
The first version, featuring Kenneth Brannon, is very extravagant. Probably the most powerful of the three, this version is borderline ridiculous. Hamlet is screaming ever word he says, throwing caution to the wind when referring to how his father has been dead 'two hours' or talking about how he would like to lay between Ophelia’s legs. It is not just Hamlet that is ridiculously over the top, both Polonius and the King are loud, making it hard to believe that they were able to plot the murder of King Hamlet, for if they had wouldn't they be more cautious with what and how they say things? And what about the "give me light" speech, would a composed king really charge the stage in such a manner (but to be fair he did do this in all three versions of the 'Mousetrap').
The second version with Ethan Hawke was slightly more realistic (despite the fact that it takes place in the modern era). There is a little less commotion and is a little less powerful than the other two because of that fact. It is though hard to take the scene seriously because it is set in modern are. I did like the reaction by ‘the king’ because it was much more subtitle.
The Mel Gibson version was well, ok. It had the same overly enthusiastic Hamlet and company, but was still more conservative than the Brannon version, but that is not that hard to do. What I particularly noticed was that the nunnery speech was present there, which made the whole clip less reliable because something was taken out of context.
Overall all three clips were unique and yet somehow managed to be consistent with one another. I did not like any of them, and thought that the directors over played the emotions in the scene.
Hannah Cain
The three different films of “the mouse trap” which we viewed in class were all very different and each of them portrayed different things about Hamlet and the reactions from Ophelia, then King, and the Queen.
In the first movie Hamlet’s “the mouse trap” was set in a medieval setting. Here in this first version of “the mouse trap” the director Branagh focused on Hamlet in particular. In this version Hamlet is extremely loud and obnoxious. He constantly looks over at the king to watch his reactions to certain parts of the play. Also in this version Ophelia is very quiet and conserved. When Hamlet asks if he can rest his head on her lap, Ophelia answers simply and quietly “No my lord.” The King and Queen’s reaction to the murder scene was not what Hamlet was looking for. They both looked shocked and disgusted and the King stands up saying “give me light.” I believe that this portrayal of Shakespeare’s Hamlet was the most accurate because its setting is appropriate for the time that it was written in.
The second film by Almereyda was a unique way to portray the film. This version of Hamlet’s “the mouse trap” was a home video made by Hamlet which was shown on a projector in a movie theatre. In Hamlet’s film there was no talking but there was music in the background. In this version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet asks much more civilized and speaks quieter to Ophelia. However, Ophelia responds harshly to Hamlet in a sharp tone saying “no my lord” and shoving him off her lap. During the murder seen in Almereyda’s version, the King seemed panicky and afterwards he runs out of the theatre. Hamlet watched Claudius the entire movie and believes that the king’s actions speak for themselves and Hamlet hopes his mother now knows what is going on.
In the last film directed by Zeffirelli there are many changes. Unlike the first two films and also unlike the novel, Hamlet talks to Ophelia about nunnery. Also in this film Ophelia seems to have a care free attitude, ignoring the actions of Hamlet such as his head on her lap. Also, the behavior of Hamlet is extremely different. Unlike the first two films, Hamlet is relaxed and acts with a more mature behavior. The King becomes extremely disturbed by the murder scene. As Hamlet sees this he again feels as though Claudius’ actions will speak for themselves. After panicking, the king like in the other films stands up screaming “Give me some light.” However, unlike the other two films, in this version the King's tone of voice is much more insecure and demanding. In this version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the director focuses more on Claudius rather than Hamlet because instead of emphasizing Hamlet’s behavior, he emphasizes the King’s.
The three versions of hamlet differ much in the way in which they were preformed. Some more existed than others and others more violent even some scrambled the scenes around. In the Mel Gibson version the scenes are mixed around, for what reason? I do not know however I found it the most boring of the three which was unexpected seeing as the “to be or not to be so each” was my favorite. I relies that it was probably most accurate out of the three depending on the whole time zone. I felt that the man in the begging of the scene (introducing the play) had more of a talking part rather than Mel or Hamlet. When I read the story I imagined hamlet loosing his mind, going crazy and what not but, Hamlet in this version was most sane. The accurate lighting cause for a boring scene. In the Ethan Hawk version it was Ophelia that stole the show for me. She was quit violent than what I imagined the movie was frightening but got the point across, well enough to make the king run out of the movie theater by him self. I liked how the film started off with the child hood to cause for a more dramatic and moving death pointed towards the king. Ophelia seemed more confused with the movie I don’t know if its because she actually understood it and refused to add up the clues in the movie or was just stupid either way it was annoying. In the Kenneth Brangh was the most entreating and interesting of them all. Hamlet was what I expected him to be and Ophelia did a better job in giving me the clue that she refused to add up the clue of the play unlike the previous version. Was Claudius not paying attention or did he know that he was in for and didn’t what to face the facts? I liked how both Claudius and the queen were scared and wanted out unlike the previous version were the mom was chill as if she wasn’t a part in the murder. I also liked how the people in the audience would look at the king and queen as if they knew what was up which caused for some nice chaos in the end.
I liked the Branagh version of the Mousetrap better because it actually had diologue in the scene so you could tell what was going on. Hamlet speaks very loudly indicating madness, which is what he was attempting to show. Also, Ophelia is shocked by this and that is how she most likely react because she most likely never seen him acting in that fashion. The Mel Gibson version Ophelia was just in an "I don't care" mood. In the modern version, she acted as if she was mad at him.
In the other two, Hamlet just speaks in a normal voice and he does not sound as offensive as the diologue infers.
Out of the three Hamlets, Branagh’s depicted the scene the best. Kenneth Branagh seems to be very energetic and agitated. No lines were left out in this version. Hamlets actions toward everyone seem mocking. Ophelia seems frightened and insulted by Hamlet lying on her lap. Hamlet is causing a big ruckus at the play which is how i imagined it. Kenneth Branagh’s obvious arrogance shows the intelligence of Hamlet and how he is proud of it. Hamlet seems as if he is above all. The two players in Mousetrap seem show emotion expressing love. When Claudius leaves he seems a little embarrassed by Hamlet but does not want to make a scene out of it. Branagh’s Hamlet best depicts the very nature of the boy as he is disgusted by his uncle for what he has done.
Ethan Hawk as Hamlet i feel has trouble getting the emotion and feeling of Hamlet across. The scene is a movie screening for a short film he made called Mousetrap. There was a sense of arrogance in his actions which showed Hamlets character. He sat with his feet perched up as if he owned the place. His body actions showed pompous attitude. Much of he script of the actual play is left out but some actions speak louder than words. The play shows the loss of Hamlet father and how it would affect a son who has gone through that. Claudius seems disgusted with the movie as if he knew it was aimed at him and he exits quickly.
In the version with Mel Gibson Hamlet is set in a traditional theatre at that time. Hamlet comes of once again arrogant. Contrasting to the other scenes Hamlet seems almost bored with his situation. One thing noticeable was Hamlets strong eye connection with people to try to make a contact with people. Ophelia seems not interested by Hamlets crude attitude and arrogance. Claudius leaves running and screaming as if deeply affected by the play. I would seem him wanting to keep his dignity.
Kenneth Branagh depicts Hamlet’s true mood in the scene. All the others have factors missing which was maybe intended to add to Hamlets character development as not to take away. Branagh shows the raw arrogance of Hamlet which creates the very character Hamlet is.
The three representations of the Mousetrap were all very different. Each director chose a specific way to interpret the scene and the characters in that scene. Branagh’s version of Hamlet was set in a Victorian manor. This gives the entire play a feeling of secrecy and deceit. Hamlet, played by Branagh, seems crazy during the scene. All of his movements and lines are highly dramatized. He becomes angry when talking about his mother and Claudius. During the play you can see how he watches for Claudius’s reaction to the murder. Claudius’s reaction to the play was a mix of anger and fear, he left the room abruptly after seeing the murder in the play. I liked the Almereyda version of the scene better than the Branagh version. It was easier to understand Hamlet’s emotional confusion through Almereyda’s directing, in Branagh’s film Hamlet seemed to have his emotions more figured out. I feel that Hawke’s acting more accurately depicted how I imagined Hamlet might be feeling. In this, Hamlet also seemed to be paying more close attention to the reaction of his uncle. I did not really like the film interpretation of the Mousetrap that the Hamlet in Almereyda’s movie created however. There were no words in the movie, and I feel as though that was a very important part for Hamlet. He was focused on and fascinated by the delivery of the lines as they gave him insight into his emotions and how he felt his mother should have reacted to his father’s death. After seeing the movie, Claudius is shocked and frightened, he leaves the theatre with haste. Zeffirelli’s Hamlet was my favorite out of the three. I felt that Gibson’s acting best displayed Hamlet’s emotional unstableness. He was crazy, but upset and confused at the same time. Claudius is uneasy throughout the entire play, but has a very big reaction after the murder takes place. He somewhat stumbles over the other people in shock and disbelief.
In Bragnah's Hamlet is set upon a victorian manor in which Hamlet seems to be very gregarious and seems pleased to enthusiastically address the crowd. I think that Bragnah as an actor drew to much attention to himself than was originally intended at least in this particular scene. Attention is only given towards the relation ship between Hamlet and Ophelia briefly. Claudius' reaction to Hamlet's play seemed to be a man trying to conceal his shock mostly successfully but he still has to remove himself from the public in order to release his stress.
In Ethan Hawk's version, Hawk portrays himself as an obnoxious teenage boy in which he throws himself onto Ophelia. She forcibly removes him yet he still seems to cling to her throughout the scene. He more often whispers his comments to Ophelia rather than to the rest of the crowd like Bragnah did. I thought the presentation of the mouse trap through a film was creative but felt even more unrealistic than the play in the other two versions.
In Mel Brook's version the play is set as Shakespeare most likely perceived it as. The relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is focused here much more than the previous depictions. Where Hamlet goes to the point of sexual harassment where he speaks most of his dialogue directed to Ophelia from between her legs. What I noticed most of all out of this version is the over the top reaction of Claudius. He makes it overwhelmingly obvious to everyone that the play has deeply disturbs him and Hamlet is very much satisfied by the result.
I don't very much like any of the versions probably because I didn't like the layout of this scene in the first place. I guess I prefer Ethan Hawk's version because I like his display of the character as an obnoxious person in general which Hamlet really is. He treats his girlfriend like crap and fails to go into any direction. Whether it is to kill the king or to pursue his own happiness as a scholar. He stands at an uncomfortable crossroads where he simply can't make up his mind about anything.
Each of the three versions of the Mousetrap/Murder of Gonzaga are very powerful, however they are all very different. In the Kenneth Branagh version he portrays Hamlet in a very angry state, also he shows quite a bit of sarcasm, through his sarcasm you can tell he is trying to embarrass Claudius, and also get a point across to Ophelia by mocking everything and not being the least bit subtle about it. Claudius’ reaction in this version is to be expected, he get very panicky and flustered screaming “give me some light” .In the Zeffirelli version Hamlet (played by Mel Gibson) starts out very calm and collected, but then he begins to behave outrageously getting very close to Ophelia, it is easy to see how uncomfortable she is. He also exudes a very “I don’t care” attitude. In the Ethan Hawke version Hamlet seems almost drunk, he is also acting very sarcastic, however since this is set in a movie theater he is not as loud or blandish as the other versions. This version, I think, has the most real and shocking reaction by Claudius, he starts looking around suspiciously, also Hamlet’s mother even looks nervous, then Claudius seems very embarrassed and he runs out of the movie theater. For me, the Ethan Hawke version was the most powerful. I believe it is because it is set in more modern times so it is easier to relate to, also I felt Claudius and Hamlet had the most real reactions and feelings.
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