This semester is coming to a close. As I’m cramming for finals and writing research papers, there is one assignment I’m actually looking forward to. After a semester of writing analysis papers in my Shakespeare class, we actually get a “fun” assignment (they were all fun to me!) – we have to write a movie remake of one of the plays we read. Naturally, I’m doing my favorite play ever: Hamlet.
My favorite version of Hamlet is, surprisingly (even to me), a “modern” remake of it starring Ethan Hawke. Here is his delivery of, quite possibly, my favorite part of Hamlet:
I have of late – but wherefore I know not – lost all my mirth…
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet,
to me, what is this quintessence of dust?
I haven’t started writing my paper yet, but I think I’m going to set Hamlet in 1950s France. Why? Because I see Hamlet as an existential play, and he should be right there with Camus and Sartre!
Ok, time to get back to studying 🙂
Rockets Fall on Rocket Falls 