Hamlet Reflection Paper
Lenny Giardino
To reflect, or not to reflect, that is the question. Hamlet can intimidate theatre goers because the interpretation changes with each viewing. For me, I saw Hamlet as a tragic character similar to Tommy Flowers. Both characters have a sort of “Rage against the Machine” mentality. Rage is timeless, and travels through different circles. For Tommy, his rage took place in the 1960’s and 70’s, while for Hamlet, his rage regarding power struggles is set in the early 1500’s.
The source of their rage is systemic. The question for Hamlet in my mind is nature v. nurture. Does Hamlet’s rage come from mental health issues or issues surrounding the relationships of power dynamics in his family, or maybe a combination of the two. The same can be said about Tommy Flowers. When you scratch the surface of this play, your first impression is that Tommy’s rage comes from rebellion over power and control by the political systemic systems of the time. However, familial events in the movie serve as a particular foreshadowing that family is also a part of Tommy’s rage.
Shakespeare’s tragic character shares another similarity with Tommy. Both try to right a wrong; however the moral path of righting the wrong takes them down a dark path. In the play Hamlet, the choice of revenge for his father’s death leads to tragedy. Similarly, Tommy’s rage kills an innocent policeman. Hamlet, however, struggles with his conscience over avenging his father’s death because his only evidence is in his dreams. This moral struggle is less apparent in the play about Tommy.
In educational leadership, we will face moral struggles that require difficult decisions. While, most of us won’t be avenging death, we will make life and death decisions regarding our student population that will require us to make sound equitable decisions on behalf of the student body. We have to remember that we have to reclaim love and avoid power related issues. In Translating the Curriculum the author asserts,” Love is dynamic and not asymmetrical.” Both plays show us how complicated this issues is as adults. Now it’s time to apply our learning through future leadership positions.
Lenny Giardino
To reflect, or not to reflect, that is the question. Hamlet can intimidate theatre goers because the interpretation changes with each viewing. For me, I saw Hamlet as a tragic character similar to Tommy Flowers. Both characters have a sort of “Rage against the Machine” mentality. Rage is timeless, and travels through different circles. For Tommy, his rage took place in the 1960’s and 70’s, while for Hamlet, his rage regarding power struggles is set in the early 1500’s.
The source of their rage is systemic. The question for Hamlet in my mind is nature v. nurture. Does Hamlet’s rage come from mental health issues or issues surrounding the relationships of power dynamics in his family, or maybe a combination of the two. The same can be said about Tommy Flowers. When you scratch the surface of this play, your first impression is that Tommy’s rage comes from rebellion over power and control by the political systemic systems of the time. However, familial events in the movie serve as a particular foreshadowing that family is also a part of Tommy’s rage.
Shakespeare’s tragic character shares another similarity with Tommy. Both try to right a wrong; however the moral path of righting the wrong takes them down a dark path. In the play Hamlet, the choice of revenge for his father’s death leads to tragedy. Similarly, Tommy’s rage kills an innocent policeman. Hamlet, however, struggles with his conscience over avenging his father’s death because his only evidence is in his dreams. This moral struggle is less apparent in the play about Tommy.
In educational leadership, we will face moral struggles that require difficult decisions. While, most of us won’t be avenging death, we will make life and death decisions regarding our student population that will require us to make sound equitable decisions on behalf of the student body. We have to remember that we have to reclaim love and avoid power related issues. In Translating the Curriculum the author asserts,” Love is dynamic and not asymmetrical.” Both plays show us how complicated this issues is as adults. Now it’s time to apply our learning through future leadership positions.
posted by book1 at 3:37 PM
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