Add your comments regarding John Green's "Crash Course" Analysis. Did Green's comments make you consider anything you hadn't already thought about? Did anything in his analysis stand out to you as particularly interesting or important? Do you disagree with any of his observations? Add your thoughtful comments below.
5 Comments
Mushka
2/5/2015 10:26:30 am
I like how John Green analyzes Hamlet. I like how he compared it to the original story Amleth on which Shakespeare based his play. It was interesting how John Green said that Ophelia was faking her madness in order to say what was really on her mind, and how she made an active decision "not to be" whereas Hamlet remained indecisive for most of the play. I like how he describes Hamlet's complex character, and how some say that he changed drastically a few times during the play. I like how explains the power of each character, and what they choose to do with their power- Hamlet has power but he doesn't always choose to use it. He also explains how Hamlet's indecisiveness was caused by the fact that what he wanted to do would have major impacts on his life and the lives of others around him.
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Davina
2/24/2015 10:21:21 am
John Green pointed out some interesting comparisons in his Crash Course that I never thought of before. How Hamlet can be compared to Elizabethan England and The Lion King, which is slightly eerie. The language of flowers was an interesting spin too, I always thought Ophelia was a bubblehead, but now it seems as if she was hiding her smartness because it was considered unseemly for a woman. The question John raised in the 2nd video about heroism having to be action, struck a chord in me as well. Because I have always thought that heroism can be the lack of action as well. Not supporting a cause can have the same damage or gain as supporting a cause.
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Sarah
2/25/2015 10:47:18 am
John Green is a pretty smart guy. I liked how he talked about whether Hamlet was a hero or not, also that inaction is also an action because Hamlet actively chose not to stab Claudius when he was praying but that if he had done so things might've turned out differently without so many deaths, although you never know. I also thought it was cool about how when Ophelia gave out the flowers it actually meant something and that through her madness she was showing her smarts. I also liked the part about how he said Hamlets trying hard TO be and Ophelia just chooses NOT to be.
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Estee
3/1/2015 01:53:21 pm
I enjoyed John Greens thoughts on Ophelia. I previously thought of her as a girl who allowed herself to become a pushover and just agreed to whatever other people said without considering who own thoughts and feelings John Green showed how she took charge of her life through deciding to end it - "not to be" as opposed to Hamlet who couldn't make up his mind "to be or not to be". I also like what he said about the flowers Ophelia gave out having a significance; she hinted the judgement that she passed on Gertrude, Claudius, and Laertes, showing that she was smart. I also liked what he said about being a hero: whether is is inaction or action that makes a person a hero.
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Kaila
4/14/2015 05:26:39 pm
John Green pointed out the ambiguity in Hamlet in contrast to Amlet. In Hamlet, Hamlet didn't actually see Claudius murder his father. I liked how he elaborated on Hamlet's narcissism. John Green pointed out the fact that Shakespeare was living in England at a time where spies were common greatly influenced the play. I enjoyed the comparison of the Mousetrap to a fun house mirror. John Green also explored the idea that every death has to be paid for by another death. I liked the theory that King Hamlet was in purgatory. I noticed after seeing the video that Laertes had stated that violets should grow from Ophelia's grave, symbolizing faithfulness. I liked the idea that Ophelia feigned madness in order to assert her beliefs through her giving the flowers. John Green also showed Gertrudes split loyalties. I also enjoyed the idea of a perpetual cycle of violence and how Hamlet's inaction actually showed on him having a conscious and thus being human.
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