Play Review: The Tragedy of Prince Hamlet

“To be or not to be.”

   Hamlet is a tragedy play made by the well known writer, William Shakespeare. The play was written between 1599 to 1602and is the longest play that Shakespeare has written. It is about the son of the late king, Hamlet, wanting to avenge his father’s death by killing his own uncle. The play starts with the guards on duty, namely: Barnardo, Horatio, Marcellus, and Francisco seeing a ghost that resembles the late King Hamlet. Meanwhile, after the king dies, Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius becomes the kin and marries Queen Gertude, the mother of Hamlet. The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet swears revenge.

   But it is in Hamlet’s character that delays him. He enters melancholy and sudden madness; which leads to the king and queen to ponder on it and give him Ophelia as his wife, but Hamlet refuses it and sends her to a nunnery.

   Madness and confusion are two of the most prominent themes of the play. And it is in this very theme that the quote arises; “To be or not to be”. A confused Hamlet ponders on the thoughts on killing the king and in life and death. He feels that he needs to kill the king as if it was his duty.  It means ‘To live or to die’. It is said that Hamlet does not fear death but he fears damnation; for ending a person’s life is a sin. But he is confused for he feels that killing Claudius is a sin, but he feels that it is a filial duty that he must complete.

   What made me notice this beautiful play was because of its theme: confusion.

   I am a teenager, which means that it is in this stage that we often find ourselves pondering on the question of which we should be, or how should we act in order not to be judges by the cruel eyes of the society. We are confused on what the ‘jury’ tells us to do and on what we want to do and what we want to be.  And the quote, ‘To be or not to be’ just made my eyes widen and relate to it. It is a question that every living soul that walks the earth has asked their selves. It is like asking to choose between dream and duty, between heart and mind, and between rational reason and impulse. It is like being an heiress or an heir, being confused on whom to choose – the one you love or the one that will make your business flourish. And in relation to being a college student, it is also like choosing your course; would you choose your dream, or would you choose the one that our parents told you to take and be practical?

   All these things made me like Hamlet. It is an excellent play. And it makes you ponder and think deep on how deep a sin can be, on how confusion can drive you mad, and on what life means.

Written by Marie Chriselle C. Tangonan
Photo credits: http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.607992452727574127&pid=15.1&P=0

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – A review

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps

on the back of the wind
and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wings

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

            Maya Angelou is known for her various writings that reflect her life. She narrates with such eloquence, with words filled with power that influenced many people especially the Black American women.  

            A certain part in her autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, is a poem that caught my eye. It is about how a free bird differs from one that is inside a cage. The poem is full of symbolism that reflects the author’s life and as well as various messages which are awe-inspiring and give a glimmer of hope to everyone.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

            Perspectives can change things so much. The way we look at our lives makes up our actions. Some may feel free—boundless, and as their eyes fall on something, they claim it, feel enticed and are free to explore it, to satisfy the curiosity that is within them. They are limitless. They go wherever their feet take them. There might be a sense of recklessness but that can be something that is of a reward for the freedom that they will not relinquish.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing

            In the eyes of someone bound by ‘chains’ it is a whole different story. The railings that hinder their freedom to explore keep them at bay, unable to touch what could have been theirs. They can’t use neither hands nor their feet but their voice yields them something more than that of outside the cage—a sense of hope, in which it keeps them equipped with strength to carry on no matter how drastic things seem to be.

            What makes me feel attached to this literary piece is that it gives you a wide range of powerful symbolism that will never fail to stun you. A beautiful display of words set before your eyes encompassed in experience and passion that lies beneath it is the life of a brave woman who is none other than, Maya Angelou.

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

Review written by: Hazel Deanne Tiangsing

Photo credits: https://anothercookiecrumbles.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/maya-angelou-i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings/

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