Soap Opera Trops

Our group decided to adapt the play into a soap opera. I feel like a lot of soap operas are situated in very classy and luxurious locations, like big mansions or a fancy building. Many of the characters have different personalities and they often represent a social class. Emotion plays a big part in soap operas, including emotional music and dramatic (facial) reactions. As a fan of Korean soap operas, I can say that there are a lot of unnecessary screaming, crying, yelling, slapping etc. etc.

I think adapting Hamlet into a soap opera is a good idea. Hamlet is a royal and in every royal family, there are political struggle involved. Like how Claudius killed his brother to take over the throne. The act we were assigned was Act 4 Scene 7, when Claudius and Laertes plots about methods to kill Hamlet, when suddenly Laertes hears about her sister's sudden death and breaks down. I think depicting this scene with a soap opera- feel is the best because Laertes goes through an emotional high and low during an extreme short period of time.

This is a really funny example of a soap opera, the man finds out that the woman's son is his son... (gasp)

And of course.. the power slap

Hamlet Re-imagined

If I were the director of the new Hamlet, I would make it as a mix of soap opera and action. I think the play Hamlet conveys seriousness, breath-taking excitement and bewilderment. Scenes where Polonius and Claudius discuss about Hamlet's queer actions reminds me of serious soap operas while the dual between Hamlet and Laertes brings up the action. 

I would choose the early 1950s to the 1960s of America as the time period. That is when the United States were the most prosperous and joyful, after bringing victory from World War 2. Also, that is when there were a lot of industrial revolutions. I would make Hamlet the son of one of the wealthiest billionaire instead of a royal Danish king. As a brother of a billionaire, Claudius would murder his brother with a gun. Also, I realized that there are a lot of reference to swords in the play. Instead I would replace swords with guns, that way it would match the time period. For the two women characters in the play, I would make Gertrude a former prostitute who needs a man beside her. For Ophelia, I would make her more intelligent and sympathetic than how she is represented in the book. She would be a different characterization of woman at that time period. I would make this movie similar to the "Great Gatsby" film that came out recently made by Baz Lurman. The movie itself is very bright and the setting symbolizes extreme wealth and opulence and I would use overly dramatized music to make the movie more suspenseful and exciting. Although old English is a great way to represent Hamlet, I would make mine modern English so that everyone, including pre-teens could understand the movie.

For Characters:

Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet

Amanda Seyfried as Ophelia

Sally Field as Gertrude

Gary Oldman as Claudius

Matt Bomer as Horatio

Sean Connery as the King

For the setting:

I think re-creating Hamlet into a specific genre adds to the overall story of the play because Hamlet consists a lot of severe dilemmas and extreme emotions within the characters. By doing so, we are able to analyze the play itself more thoroughly and enhance our perspectives of Hamlet.

Songs of Hamlet and Ophelia

I think it's evident that Hamlet and Ophelia are in a love/hate relationship. They are crazy in love for each other however they feel a big gap between them after Hamlet's father died.

The first song is "Misery" by Maroon 5. Hamlet is madly in love with Ophelia, but he is angry that she was part of Claudius' and Polonius' trick. I think this song depicts Ophelia's feeling very well. After the king's death, Hamlet distanced himself from Ophelia. Without knowing the situation, Ophelia thinks that Hamlet is trying to end their relationship.

"Sometimes these cuts are so much deeper than they seem"

...

"I am in misery

There ain't nobody who can comfort me 

Why won't you answer me?

The silence is slowly killing me

(Girl) you really got me bad

You really got me bad

I'm gonna get you back

Gonna get you back"

...

"I'm desperate and confused so far away from you"

The second song is "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri. This song demonstrates Hamlet's disappointment towards Ophelia when he finds out that she is contributing to Claudius and Polonius' scheme. This song shows Hamlet's regret, hurt, sorrow and his sense of frustration.

"I know I can't take one more step towards you

'Cause all that's waiting is regret

Don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore

You lost the love I loved the most

...

So don't come back for me

Who do you think you are?

...

I've learned to live, half a live

And now you want me one more time"

The last song shows Hamlet's contempt towards Ophelia. Claudius uses Ophelia to figure out Hamlet's motives, but Hamlet finds out that he is being deceived and rages at Ophelia. 

"Nobody's gonna make a fool out of me

...

Oh you think that you know me, know me

that's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely

'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me

You don't know a thing about me

...

Only got yourself to blame

When you want me back again

..."

"Modern" Soliloquy

In Shakespeare's plays, a lot of characters have their own soliloquy. It is a way for the characters to connect and "reach out" to the audience. It is their own thought bubble, not interfered with other opinions. I think the pop culture today is very similar to the soliloquy Hamlet conveys in the play. Social medias like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr are all ways for people to express their opinions. One example is a twitter post from a renown celebrity, "I'm thankful for my health, the roof over my head, the food on my table, the people that love & care about me, & life itself is blessing."Or another twitter post like "What is it like, to get up in the morning and feel truly happy? To enjoy living in your own skin? I wish I knew." I think the social media fits the definition of a "modern" soliloquy because of the freedom people are given to express their thoughts. A soliloquy is important in Shakespearian plays because it is not swayed by the thoughts of other people. Social media now a days plays the exact same role, it serves as an area for people to convey their feelings openly. (in the case of Shakespearean plays, the audience). As a viewer, I think using social media as a way to express one's feeling is a good way to connect with people and to recover from problems. However, being too open can sometimes overwhelm the viewers. One thing that divides a Shakespearian soliloquy from social media is that social media is viral, and it is never kept in secrecy. Overall, I find it helpful that the social media serves as a "modern" soliloquy.