Hamlet ~ Kenneth Branagh ~ Ophelia's Burial

Act 5 Scene 1
Here comes the King,
The Queen, the courtiers -who is that they follow,
And with such maimèd rites ? This doth betoken
The corpse they follow did with desp'rate hand
Fordo it's own life. 'Twas of some estate.
Couch we a while, and mark.


This is I, Hamlet the Dane. Ophelia's burial.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Kenneth
• Branagh
• Shakespeare
• Hamlet
• Michael
• Maloney
• Nicholas
• Farrell
• Julie
• Christie
• Derek
• Jacobi
• Kate
• Winslet
• Ophelia
• burial
• funeral

[eyasw0rld]

"forty thousand brothers could not with all that quantity of love make up my sum!"

brilliant! honestly brilliant!

[charlottekane123]

I am reading Hamlet in school and we have seen many versions of Hamlet, but this version truly made me understand Hamlet.

[fluffybunny360]

This made me cry in my british lit class. Brilliant.

[MaRiAtheHeDg3hOg]

I hate to be that guy who laughs during a funeral, but the "HOLD OFF THE EARTH AWHILE!" just...I couldn't help it. Something about it, I don't know...just how sudden it is, I guess. :P

But, otherwise, this scene was really quite solemn. I love it. C:

[Badfuzzy1]

Anyone watch this with the "transcribe audio" turned on? It's hilarious.

[0alifish0]

'Woo't drink up eisel, eat a crocodile?' (5.1.244) still makes me laugh xD 3:19

[asafk8]

@OrangeTealSky I don't think she killed herself... She went insane after all.

[NHLman27]

@OrangeTealSky agreed, and that's why this play is AWESOME

[OrangeTealSky]

@NHLman27

As for Ophelia being pregnant when she died, this is a bit of a stretch considering there's no real proof she wasn't a virgin when she died. However, drowning was a popular way for unwed pregnant women to kill themselves during that time. Also, during Ophelia's song about the 'flowers', she purposely gives herself rue. Rue is very poisonous but also used as a way of abortion. Idk. It's really up to whatever you want to think.

[OrangeTealSky]

@NHLman27

Well, I can't really see that being implied anywhere. The only reason Gertrude goes so long in informing us of how it happened is because she's also informing Laertes who was particularly close to his sister not to mention his father had just died so she's taking more care with it. Regardless, I don't see why Gertrude would kill her because of her beauty when Ophelia was insane at that point anyways.

[NHLman27]

@OrangeTealSky Now, why would she?

during the Murder of Gonzago, Hamlet declines his mother's offer to sit next to her, as he'd rather sit by Ophelia, who is "mettle more attractive". Gertrude is old for her time, the idea-and commonly accepted idea- is that Hamlet is in his 30s, putting her in her 40s or 50s at the youngest, a very old age for that period. it was competition. t isn't concretely supported by the text itself- like most Shakespeare, it's what's implied. simply food for thought

[NHLman27]

@OrangeTealSky Gertrude is not only the one who informs us of Ophilia's death, but she describes her as drowning in a brook. A brook is pretty hard to drown in unless someone is "assisting" you. the details she brings to her death is a hint of her involvement. When Rosencraz and Gildenstern die, they are informed simply, "Rosencranz and Gildenstern are dead". Gertrude goes a long way in informing us of how it happened.