Claudiuss Corruption In The Royal Shakespeare - 1638 Words

Claudius’s fascist use of power to force Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and even the halls of Elsinore to do his bidding is not without its consequences; time and time again, the familial bonds and those of friendship are shattered as a result of his corruption, just as countless mirrors in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of the story are. For instance, the incompetent Polonius is struck down at the line: â€Å"How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead,† (3.4.24). In the original text, he is shanked with a blade through a curtain; however, in the film at question, he is shot through a closet door covered in a mirror. As a result, the mirror fractures. The fracturing of the mirror is not merely a literal occurrence, but a change†¦show more content†¦The broken glass then appears again when the Queen learns of Ophelia’s insanity: â€Å"Her speech is nothing,/ Yet the unshaped use of it doth move/ The hearers to collection†¦Ã¢â ‚¬  (4.5.7-9). Getrude stairs at herself in the shattered pane as she hears this disheartening description of young Ophelia drifting from reality only enough for the hearer to still be able to try to piece together some broken semblance of an anguished thought. Ophelia even steps into the view of the audience by way of standing within the reflection of the cracked mirror, reflecting her own shattered state, but not before Gertrude thinks on the tragedy surrounding the members of the court: â€Å"To my sick soul, as sin’s true nature is,/ Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss,† (4.5.17-18). Looking into what once was a reflection of a whole person, Gertrude is able to see that the now distorted reflection of her own countenance is more accurate than a whole mirror could ever portray, since her family and herself have been shattered. Finally, as Hamlet and Horatio discuss the news of the old school mate s death, Horatio implores, â€Å"Why, what a king is this!â €  (5.2.63). This counsel is held, once again, in front of a shattered mirror. Hamlet and Horatio both see the work of the King as a parody of what should be, and know that the root of all of this corruption is the heinous lord of Elsinore. Claudius’s treachery isShow MoreRelatedHamlet Character Analysis Essay1408 Words   |  6 Pagesthrone for as long as he does becomes significantly more vivid and understandable for an audience when seen as it was intended, on stage, especially when a seasoned organization such as the Royal Shakespeare Company is given control of the production. 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