To Be or Not to Be???

"To be or not to be..."
This phrase seems to be a constant part of the explanation of my life considering plans seem to change so suddenly, good things come to an end, and people betray you...sometimes I'm left wondering Why? or What if? However, I am definitely not to the suicidal point as Hamlet is (my roommate says she would be upset if I got to that low point...).  On the other hand, I would stick with the idea of good old sleep being my escape into dreamland where anything can happen!  Hamlet has so many depressing soliloquies...it makes me feel sorry for the guy, but he does have his weird moments too...like his relationship with his mother or his overall craziness...

When trying to read "Hamlet," I discovered that it seemed to be easier to understand if I read it aloud (even though my roommate made have labeled me as crazy as a result...oh well!)  I really enjoyed this quote that I found: "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.  Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment."  It seems to be saying that listening is more valuable and often you should keep your opinion to yourself.  On the other side, you should listen to others' advice, but make the ultimate decision on your own.


Then it was decided that it would probably make more sense if we instead watched it...and indeed I think it does...reminds me of how it was easier for me to read Pride and Prejudice after watching the movie.  I think it is because you can see the characters' emotions and actually see their actions take place.  It is then easier to put a personality to the characters and hear the actor's voice even when reading the play itself.  It is a lot like still being able to understand the opera in Austria even though it was completely in German.


The most interesting character to me almost seems to be Ophelia...maybe it's because at first I can relate with her when she has a guy that seems to like her, but she is warned to be careful because he might be the type to hop from girl to girl.  It was funny to read how they described flirting in Old English.  According to my notes, "toy in blood" is translated to flirtation.  I guess maybe they get that idea from the fact that flirting could be described as toying and blood could refer to the blush that it could cause.  But anyways, it is interesting nonetheless...  Now I will eagerly await to see how the actors portray the ending...