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code_geass2009-02-21 09:03 pm
Code Hamlet: Lelouch, Prince of Britannia
For my Survey of Dramatic Literature class we were given the option of making a "movie trailer" for one of the plays we read in class. I chose Hamlet since it's one of my favorites, and as a special twist I decide to make it a Code Geass rendition of Hamlet (my professor was already expecting me to make it anime-related somehow.. last semester, I helped me friend with the same project and we did a Death Note rendition of the play "A Doll's House", which he loved).
Hope you don't mind if I share the trailer?? I'm... kinda proud of it, teehee~ =]
My "research"/explanation for why I combined these two...
Hamlet & Code Geass
Shared Themes:
· The complexity of Action
o In both Hamlet and Code Geass, the question of how to act is affected not only by rational considerations, such as the need for certainty, but also by emotional, ethical, and psychological factors.
§ Hamlet: reluctant to exact revenge against Claudius until he knows for sure Claudius killed his father
§ Code Geass: Lelouch reluctant to exact revenge against his family members until he knows whether or not they know anything about his mother’s death.
· The nation as a diseased body
o Under the rule of Claudius,
§ Hamlet: “[s]omething is rotten in the state of
§ Code Geass: “Britannia is rotten”.
§ At the end of Hamlet, when Fortinbras assumes the throne, it is suggested that
· Do the ends justify the means??
o In Hamlet, pretty much all of the main characters die, and in most their cases their deaths are undeserved – and/or could have been prevented. The same can be said of Code Geass. And yet, with these deaths, order is restored;
· Things get worse before they get better.
CHARACTER CONNECTIONS
· Hamlet/Lelouch:
o Obsessed with the idea of death
o The question of his own death plagues Hamlet, as he repeatedly contemplates whether or not suicide is a morally legitimate action in an unbearably painful world. Likewise, Lelouch has always considered himself as “dead” and often contemplates means of escaping a painful world, resorting to drug use.
o Both melancholy and discontented with the state of affairs of their countries and their families.
o Both present themselves as “mad” to fool others, and both cross a point where it’s hard to tell if they’re pretending or if they actually are mad.
o Hamlet is ‘indirectly’ the cause of Ophelia’s death; Lelouch is the direct cause of Euphemia’s death.
o Both hesitate in crucial moments; their morality sometimes gets in the way of the action they should take.
o Where they differ: Hamlet’s actions are more spur-of-the-moment, whereas Lelouch spends too much time trying to plan things in advance.
· Laertes/Suzaku:
o Both lose a woman precious to them (for Laertes, Ophelia, his sister; for Suzaku, Euphemia, his lover) and swear revenge against the one responsible.
o Both claim that nothing will distract them from acting out their revenge.
o Both easily influenced and manipulated (Laertes by Claudius; Suzaku by the wills of those around him).
o Both passionate and quick to take action.
· Ophelia/Euphemia:
o Ophelia driven mad by Hamlet; Euphemia driven mad by Lelouch.
o Ophelia commits suicide because of Hamlet; Euphemia is killed by Lelouch.
o Both sweet, innocent, and obedient to their family members.
o Both undeserving of the death they receive; it’s almost too cruel.
· Claudius/Emperor Charles
o Both are corrupt
o Compromise the state of their empires to satisfy their own selfish desires
· Gertrude/C.C.
o More questions arise from these two characters than are answered
o Audience never truly knows either of them
o Largely dependant on the men around them
o Audience never really knows which side she is truly on, until the very end; Gertrude sides with Hamlet, C.C. sides with Lelouch.
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That's kind of freaking awesome. xD
Anyway... those connections are rather interesting. I've never read Hamlet, so I don't know much about the characters at all, heh.
Also, you're allowed to do this for class? That's... pretty darn awesome. YOU ARE ONE LUCKY PERSON.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miaFOcgAHrM
;]
Yep! I asked the teacher and he was like "as long as you can explain yourself, go for it!" he's really open minded with stuff like this, which I love. It's made the class so much fun. Just the other day he had me explain to the class what cosplay was 'cause he knows I cosplay and we were discussing the quote "life imitating art". XD <3
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I love this! XD
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This is the first time I;ve ever gotten to use anime in a school project! I was so excited XDD
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o_o
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Everyone in the class that doesnt know anime (which is.. most of the class -_- ) is gonna be very confused... lol
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whoa, small world~ I had to make a movie for A Doll's House too, but I never thought of using Death Note *goes to check it out*
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Haha I never woulda thought of combining the plays with anime if it hadn't been for my friend doing it first. XD
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So I love your idea xD
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Totally great xD
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Didn't something official state Hamlet was Lelouch's favourite book too? xD
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I also read somewhere that he actually reads the book at one point in the show but... I can't seem to find it D:
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I agree that Code Geass is a tragedy as well, comparing the two is a lot of fun! I'm a Shakespeare dork too, lol.