Hamlet

Hamlet                                         Haider 

William Shakespeare        Vishal Bhardwaj

Denmark (14th&15th C.)   Srinagar(1995)

King Hamlet.                        Hilaal Meer

Ophelia                                  Arshia

Claudius.                               Khurram

Polonius                                Parvaze

Gertrude                               Ghazala

Ghost                                     Roohadaar

Themes: 

Revenge, Women, Corruption, Religion, Politics, Madness. 

Merits and Demerits: 

A universal appeal can be found in Shakespeare's tragedy "HAMLET". The central themes of human mortality, existential angst, the struggle for power, and the complexities of familial relationships resonate with people from various backgrounds and periods. Hamlet's famous soliloquy, "To be or not to be, " encapsulates the universal contemplation of life, death, and the human condition. 

One of the most touching and shocking scenes of the film occurs in the song ‘Jhelam’ during Haider’s search for his father: a blood-soaked boy leaps out of a truck full of stinking, mutilated corpses and dances in jubilation, rejoicing to be alive.

In Haider, the issue of losing one’s identity is highlighted effectively in a scene where a Kashmiri man stands on the threshold of his own house without entering. Roohdaar intervenes: he asks the man to show him his identity card, frisks him as Indian officers usually do, then allows him to cross the doorsill. This man is diagnosed with a pathological condition called ‘New Disease’, which witnesses the level of juridical intervention in people’s lives. This scene describes the tragic comedy. 

The gravedigger scene is important in Hamlet because it both represents comic-relief and tragedy. The Gravediggers relate to time as the ultimate equivocator. Time humbles all men because they end up in the same place. The gravediggers say that whether one is a king or a beggar they end up in the dirt.

Heart of Darkness Themes

       Heart of Darkness's Themes:       

Heart of Darkness is a novella by Polish-English novelist Joseph Conrad in which the sailor Charles Marlow tells his listeners the story of his assignment as steamer captain for a Belgian company in the African interior. It was published in Blackwood's Magazine in 1899; again in 1902 as the third work in the anthology, youth. The setting of the novella is on the deck of the Nellie; the Congo River. 

1. Colonialism and Imperialism: 

The novella critiques the exploitative nature of colonialism and the brutal treatment of native populations by European powers. It sheds light on the dehumanizing impact of imperialism on both the oppressors and the oppressed. 

2. Ambiguity of Morality: 

 "Heart of Darkness" questions traditional notions of good and evil. The characters' actions and the environment they inhabit blur the lines between right and wrong, prompting readers to confront the complexities of morality. 

3. The Journey into the Unknown : 

 The journey up the Congo River symbolizes a journey into the unknown, both physically and psychologically. The voyage becomes a metaphor for self-discovery, as the characters confront their darkness and grapple with their identities.

4. The Concept of Civilization : 

 The contrast between the supposedly civilized European society and the "uncivilized" African wilderness raises questions about the true nature of civilization. The narrative challenges the idea that European culture is inherently superior.

5. Isolation and Alienation: 

 The characters in the novella often experience feelings of isolation and alienation due to the harsh environment and their inner struggles. This theme highlights the psychological toll of the colonial enterprise. 

6. Narrative Structure and Perspective : 

The story is framed as a retelling within a retelling, creating layers of narrative and perspectives. This structure raises questions about the reliability of the narrator and the subjective nature of truth. 

7. Power and Corruption : 

 The pursuit of power and wealth is closely linked to corruption and moral decay in the characters. The lust for ivory serves as a symbol of this corrupting influence. 

8. Darkness and Light: 

The symbolism of darkness and light is pervasive throughout the novella. It reflects not only the physical setting but also the moral and psychological struggles of the characters.

 9. Madness and Descent into Chaos: 

 The characters' descent into madness, especially Kurtz's, illustrates the breakdown of sanity and the loss of humanity in the face of unchecked power and isolation.

 10. Cultural Clashes and Misunderstandings: 

The interactions between European colonizers and African natives highlight the misunderstandings, miscommunications, and clashes that arise when different cultures come into contact.

Reference: Wikipedia, Cliffs notes, and my class discussion. 

Lord of the Flies Movie Review: 

Lord of the Flies is a 1963 British drama film based on William Golding's 1954 novel of the same name about 30 schoolboys who are marooned on an island where the behavior of the majority degenerates into savagery. It was written and directed by Peter Brook and produced by Lewis M. Allen. The film was in production for much of 1961, though the film did not premiere until 1963, and was not released in the United Kingdom until 1964.

At the beginning of the movie, it is shown that Piggy's outer look is commented on by his classmates and that he is ostracized. Through this scene, the writer shows the current situation of body shaming.

As the movie progresses, Jack and Ralph's group gets separated. Jack's group goes hunting and Ralph's group tries to find a way to get back from the island. Ralf's main purpose is survival. This scene suggests that people who work hard keep working hard, while others get money even without working hard.

In Ralf's group, there is one guy whose name is Simon. He is an intellectual and visionary guy. In the movie, he is shown thinking about something.

As the movie progresses, a scene is shown in which Jack tells the group members that pork will be given to those who join the group. This scene represents the current electoral system or rather the mindset of the present human being. He goes to the side which sees his profit whether it is right or wrong.

Rumors are spread by the group that the Beast is, when Simon comes to tell the truth to those present, he is killed by Jack's tribe.  And it is called mob lynching.

There is a scene in the movie where some students are beating other students with sticks and others are laughing at it which is called sadism.

In another scene, Piggy's glasses are forcibly taken from him to light a fire and then thrown away. The scene represents that people will call you as long as they need you and then you will be kicked out of their group.

At the end of the movie, Jack's group sets the entire forest on fire. The fire causes suffocation and they come closer to the sea. When they see the naval officer at first everyone thinks that this is their illusion. They touch a naval officer to turn their illusion into reality. And in the eyes of all, remorse is often seen.

   "Maybe there is a beast....   Maybe it's only us. " 

Here I past a blog link that is based on our unit: 1 Lord of the Flies : https://vipuldabhi49.blogspot.com/2023/08/lord-of-flies-by-william-golding.html?m=1

         Orientation Trip.       

On August 12, 2023, Saturday. One day orientation trip was organized by M.R.R.Monapara Arts College at Zazmer Beach, Mastaramdhara, and Gopnath Beach. The main purpose of this trip was to see the behavior of students. Orientation Trip allows students to connect with other students and faculty members, learn about available resources on campus, and receive support as they begin their college journey.

We started our excursion around 8.30 am from our college. Everyone started singing a song and dancing but I didn't because I want to observe nature. Our bus was going towards the destination at a not-too-fast and not-too-slow speed on NH51, and I was enjoying the zephyr. The atmosphere was very calm and peaceful. After many years, I saw all the things which I and my family members do on our farm, like weeding, Spraying the pesticides  in the crop with a pump, and plowing the farm with a bullock. And I also like to drive Hackery, and that day I am so happy to see hackery after a long time. I had forgotten the village name when I saw the dry date tree. Mostly, it occurs in and around Kutch. A wonderful view of Shetruji river was seen, which gave another pleasure to the eyes while moving forward. Taladhwajagiri (Talajani Gufa) was also a sight to behold. Due to the monsoon season, the whole hill looked green and lush.   I noticed that today's farmers conserve water by using modern methods like sprinklers and drip irrigation for crops, while urban people waste water unnecessarily.

That day, I felt that monsoon is the best time for an excursion because, as long as you look, you only saw green. Moving further, after Fulsar and before Uchadi, I saw windmills. It was my second experience to observe a windmill up close. Finally, around 10.15 we reached Mastaramdhara, Zanzmer. There we had breakfast and then we went to Zanzmer Beach. We took photos. We came back for lunch. After lunch, we played Garaba. Here, we broke the rules that were given by our sir. Then we went to Gopnath Beach. There, we captured personal and group photos. The beach was very attractive.   There, I and my pal Ayusha had a lot of fun. 

When we coming back, I observed that in Uchadi there is one Mahadev temple, and behind it, there is a beautiful lake. In the middle of the lake, there are so many trees, that it looks like Andaman Island. And finally, when we came back I joined my friend's group for dance and had fun. It was not a memorable trip but it was a knowledgeable trip. Thank you so much, Dr. Ashish Sir Chauhan and Vipul Sir for your support. And special thanks to my dearest and most lovely friend Ayusha for being with me through the whole trip.