English 1C

April 30, 2011

Annotate Bibliography: Two Hamlets
Levin, Kate D. Two Hamlets Shakespeare Quarterly 53 .1 (2002) 106-115. Web. 30 April
2011.
Levin begins her article by describing the importance of plays and the performance
given between actors and an audience. Throughout her article, Levin also describes a
fascination along with the improvisation approach to life, and how in a play should have
rearrangements and additions to provide a sort of life like experience for the audience . Her
article is called Two Hamlets because it refers to two Hamlet plays that have been
interpreted and acted in a different way. In her article, she brings up the controversial
relocation of To be or not to be . Hamlets encounter with Ophelia was not preceded by the
soliloquy, [Hamlets] savagery on get thee to a nunnery included ripping the returned letter
from strenuously wiping nonexistent paint off Ophelias face and pulling her hair (108) .
The relocation of To be or not to be and the addition of wife beating brutal Hamlet would
disappoint writer Harold Bloom, whose shown his fascination with Shakespeare and his play .
Such a change to the play gives off a very negative view, and removing the most crucial
moment of the play changes the entire story, no longer making it Shakespeares masterpiece .
Bloom would argue that this modification is completely pre-critical, and no changes should be
made to the Shakespearean representation and the originality of his play. Bloom would also
add that the idea of a violent Hamlet attacking his love would deprive the audience of the
poetic and pre-critical Hamlet, and give them the wrong idea of changes Hamlet is going
through, both mentally and emotionally. Florain would disagree with Bloom and think that the
changes made in the play make it more critical, by adding abstract and unexpected ideas .
Florians Dumb Show and Noise is her personal take on Hamlet, as she takes the story and
puts it into her own words. Florian would also agree with Levin on importance of
improvisation in the play. Her entire short story can be considered an improvisation, making it
no surprise that she supports changes made to Hamlet. Hamlets inability to take violent
action is an innate characteristic, one the production thematized in a several bits of business
with weapons (111). Bloom would argue that Hamlets inability to take violent action is a
critical characteristic, showing that Hamlet is fully in tune with his thoughts and not forgetting
that violent action would only cause death, and may keep him from fulfilling his dead fathers
wishes. Making a more violent Hamlet would show his immaturity in regards to handling his
fathers murder, and keep him from killing Claudius for the crimes he had committed .
This article supports more of Florians views, as improvisation, changes,
rearrangements and additions are what she is best at . Bloom would disagree with Levin and
Florian by arguing that Shakespeares play should not be tampered with and only through his
interpretation can the audience fully grasp the meaning that he tries to portray .