Chokyab Sherab

Ryan Gallagher
12 CP Period1
21 Mar. 2011
Get thee to a nunnery

In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the main character lord Hamlet faces many

conflicts in his life and as of result his character become kind of strange and strong emotional

like mad man. So I think the best video for the play is act 3. sc1 line 96-175 is Kenneth Branagh

and Kate Winslet version. Where Hamlet break up with Ophelia. Kenneth Branagh and Kate

Winslet use all the line in the play and did a very well job to put the every and each line in right

emotional and tone with very detail as we imagine, how it would be act out as we read. Also the

play background music help to show state of the mind of the Hamlet and Ophelia and their love

and sadness.

“Get thee to a nunnery” soliloquy is start just after the “To be or not to be” soliloquy as

Ophelia enter in that big empty high ceiling room, and the Hamlet states “soft you now, the fair

Ophelia. -Nymph , in thy Orisons Be all my sin remember.” (3.1:96-98) with soft and loving

voice, which explain us, Hamlet is very please to see her and she can give him some kind of

relief for his craziness and madness. But as she mention to give him back the those present he

gave her before and hand to him, Hamlet emotion start to change from soft, passion and peace to

angry, disbelieve and sad. He said “No, not I. I never give you aught.” (3.1:105) Hamlet denies

those presents are he sent to her, Ophelia gave the confusion look and half close eyes to question

him with confusion and said “My honored lord, well you know right you did,” (3.1:106) then she

is more confidante and hand back him those gift. In Kenneth Branagh version he slap on her

hand to throw them away. Where he start to get really angry with her. Then Hamlet voice is

getting louder and louder as he get angry toward Ophelia like everyone of us do when they mad
for some body and having verbal fight. Hamlet anger with sad emotion mix and from very low

voice pitch to higher he ask Ophelia “Ha, ha, are you honest? Are you in Fair ?” (3.1:113-115) to

ask her to ask herself that she was been honesty with herself.

Then Hamlet tells Ophelia in a loud voice with serious tone “That if you be honest and

fair, [your honesty] should admit no discourse to your beauty.” (3.1:117-118) her honesty and

fair are not match to her outer beauty, and her characters are fake and dishonesty. When he said

that he is mad for Ophelia been dishonesty with have pitch with very fast rhythm, but at the end

he pause a long silent and change from angry emotion to sad and disappoint with crying tone, he

mention “I did love you once.” (3.1:125) that was perfectly played because from Hamlet

expression we can tell that he truly loved Ophelia once, which was proof in the preview act.

Hamlet was totally mad and sick of human nature and being a human, now he is kind hate

everyone been not honest. He mention Ophelia “Get thee to a nunnery......Go thy way to a

nunnery.” (3.1:131-140) with very quick and harsh and rough tone, tell her to stop bring no more

liar in this world rather go to the nunnery to be a nun to end the sin of this world. He criticize for

human being been dishonesty each other and specially his mother marriage with his uncle soon

after his father’s death. He mention some of his characters revengeful and ambitious tells, what

the human essential characters to be prideful person.

According to the text they have big shift from the end of the Act 3.1 line 140. In the

Kenneth Branagh version King Claudius and Polonius accidentally hit on something and make

noise from where they hidden and draw Hamlet attention. Hamlet get suspicion, he turn to the

direction of where noise came from very slowly, then turn back toward the Ophelia in a very

cool reaction and very low voice ask where is her father, which perfectly make sense of the

Hamlet sudden question. Ophelia finch her mouth, get a deep breath and forcefully keep her eyes
on Hamlet, which most of us do when we telling the a lie with face to face some one. And tell

him “At home, My lord.” (3.1:141)

Follow by when he said “Let the doors shuts upon him that he may play the fool nowhere

but in ‘s own house. Farewell.” (3.1:143-144) in a low voice with almost cry tone, he isn’t only

mad at Polonius but for every one who turn back to him. Which was happen to him at the begin

of the Act3.sc1. two of his best friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come him to observe him,

as sent by King and queen and now Ophelia the woman that he use to loved turn back on him

and sent by other to spy on him. So it is perfectly someone reaction for disappointment and has

no one to trust.

Hamlet sorrows and sadness turn to the madness and craziness, as he is forcefully

dragging Ophelia with one hand and open each door with other to see who spying on them, and

he strongly push her on wall and shout that marry is fool and he wishes he can end the all

marriages, he said wise and smart people know marry will make monster, so get out from

marriage. He shout her to go nunnery quick. (3.1:146-153). In the follow line Hamlet in same

emotion with and tone he said “I have heard of your paintings too, well enough......your

ignorance”. (3.1:154-1580) He is very angry about her unfaithfulness as he mention he seen her

painting enough, not been herself which is truthful and honesty characters. At the end he shift to

a low, slow, soft, clear and clam tone and voice mention he will not marriage her at all and keep

the life and tell to go to nunnery.

I think Kenneth Branagh and Kate Winslet did very good job to setting all the sense, from

that video we can totally understand what going on in play with each and every detail.