To Be or Not To Be

               Hamlet's speech that starts with famous line "To be or not to be" contemplates life and death. This is one of the most famous monologues ever written and acted out. The many adaptations of Hamlet all present this scene very differently, in the setting, and the way the lines are delivered.
               Oliver's adaptation of Hamlet takes place on a beach. Hamlet is sitting on a huge rock that overlook the ocean. Throughout the scene, the camera keeps show the waves crashing against the rock. I think this is used to show the feelings of Hamlet. He is right on the edge, and waves keep crashing into the rock, just like all of the tragedies his life are hitting him. he is also all alone, and there is absolutes nothing near him. This shows how he feels that he is completely alone, since his father died. In the beginning, the scene is very quite, with the only sound being the actors. However, half way through, music starts to play and it conveys a very panicked and nervous feeling. After that there is no more music. The actor playing Hamlet was playing him as very detached. There was not much emotion, it felt like.
               Zeffirelli's version of Hamlet took place in the family catacombs mausoleum. This was a very unique setting, because hamlet was staring right into was he was contemplating. This made it much more obvious what he was discussing. This was a physical example of what he was saying to both Hamlet, and the audience. There is no music in this scene, just like in the ghost scene. I think this is done so that the audience could focus on the acting, and content of the scene. The actor was very emotional throughout the entire scene. He seemed very sad and depressed in  the beginning, and then became angry near the middle.
                 Branagh's version was extremely different than the rest. This takes place right in the palace where Hamlet lives. This set is very ornate, and also very bright and colorful. Branagh does not really use music in this scene. I think it is done this way so that the audience could really focus on the dialogue, just like in Zeffirelli's version. The director uses a mirror as the main prop. Hamlet recites a lot of his soliloquy into the mirror, and therefore to himself. This is intentionally showing us that this is an interior conflict that Hamlet has, and one that he is only dealing with this crisis on his own. The actor delivers the lines very quietly. He is whispering. This is also done to, again, show that this something Hamlet is gong through on his own, and that he is separate from everyone else. 
                The to be or not to be scene that we watched was the Almereyda version. This is modern version, so Hamlet says this in a newer setting, which is a blockbuster. He is walking through the aisles of the action movie section. This shows some foreshadowing that Hamlet might take action  on something soon. Also, he is discussing taking action, so the setting reflects this.n There is no music used during the scene. The actor portrays Hamlet as very detached, just like in the first version. He is not saying the first half of the soliloquy, but instead thinking it. He starts to actually say the second half. This shows how detached he is from everything. 
                I think Hamlet has been redone so often because has so many universal themes in Hamlet, that many people can relate to. These versions are all very different as well. This shows that Hamlet can be interpreted many ways, but the main themes are always that same. I think this is why Hamlet has been portrayed so often.