Blog #12: Hamlet Social Media Blog Post

Hamlet Act 5- And The Beat Goes On . . . Even If The Characters Don't (Blog- Ophelia) I told them I was mad, bewildered and cut to the throat with blasphemy- no matter how many songs I had quoted or sang none felt quite right. If this parasitic madness was to take off my head to be it, but allow my lips to coax a last song. A song of endless love and painful self wallowing. A lyrical rejoicing of what could be beyond the still waters of the vacant creek. "I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep/ As watchman to my heart" (1.3.129-130) I wander and watch the cloves of fermenting love that Hamlet sends for me, though no love ballad accommodates his voice quite so sweetly as a poisoned perfume. Our love was held a secret and hated among many as I was commanded to leave his rotting heart to heal my own, I had said "No, my good lord; but as you did command/ I did repel his letters and denied..." (2.1.1067-1068). I was so looked down upon by others even before I was seen as deranged... because they had made me question myself and my place, because "Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce than with honesty?" (3.1.1804) but soon I was to realize "I was the more deceived" (3.1.1813) for I didn't even believe in myself.

"There was something so pleasant about that place/ Even your emotions have an echo in so much space" (Barkley) it was falsely pleasant for I was believed I was protected, but protected from what? From myself and what I believed? Gnarls Barkley sang the song that finally made me fully understand my deranged state, Crazy. His quizzical and forthright complex mannerisms of his songs connect with how I can barely communicate myself to other except through song. I explain the truth and reveal all, and they still refuse to see me. Though once insanity had become my lover I can speak for myself and remind others what they must be. I wonder if I could teach all of them the idea that woman can love and think for themselves, "O, what a noble mind in her o'er thrown!/ The courtier's, scholar's, soldier's, eye, tongue, sword,..." (3.1.1841-1842). My voice with chimes and calls of songs forgotten will remind them of what they themselves had forgotten. And after they come into realization of why I am right they will cry, "You are keen, my lord, you are keen." (3.2.2141) for with my wisdom they will realize their one wrongs. For they will be my young students and learn from me a many things, I will advise them in the smartest way a free thinking woman can, "Play let's have no words of this; but when they ask, you what/ it means, say you this:..." (4.6.2108-2109) teaching them the properly crazed way of consideration. For those who don't listen, don't listen for a particular reason, "But it wasn't because I didn't know enough/I just knew too much" (Barkley).

For I am now free... free without my judging mind to follow. Though learning is as it is and it will take its time for personal realization, "I hope all will be well. We must be patient" (4.5.2930). I will constantly remind them to think and work and proclaim that of what must change in the world, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love,/remember. And there is pansies, that's for thoughts." (4.5.3053-3054) for the saddest thing the world could do... would be to forget that ones purest self can think for thy purest self. The king and my brother may stand against me, but now I am myself, not them "Who do you think you are?/Ha ha ha, bless your soul/You really think you're in control?" (Barkley) and if they stand against me or with me I guess the only proper response would be, "Maybe we're crazy" (Barkley). Though Gnarl Barkley's sense of questionable reality and dispute of control and power play the hidden tune to my heart. He may sound frantic is in the climbing waves of his voice, but he truly feels the contemptuous feelings set against them and pushes then right off his own back, honestly and truthfully- just as I wish to do.

"I remember when when I lost my mind" (Bakley), it opened up the world to my own thoughts. The direct message of the song I will continue to contemplate even after my last heart beat sounds  I will continue to follow think with my own mind as long as it takes, "Indeed, la, without an oath, I'll make an end on't!" (4.5.2918) so an oath I shall make with the forget-me-not's, to never forget myself. "And it's no coincidence I've come/ And I can die when I'm done" (Barkley).

Lyrics to Chosen Song: Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
I remember when
I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions have an echo in so much space

And when you're out there, without care
Yeah I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly

And now that you are having the time of your life
Well think twice
That's my only advice

Come on now, who do you
Who do you, who do you
Who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you're in control?
Well

I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart
To lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember, is thinking
I wanna be like them
Mm hmm ever since I was little
Ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done

Maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably ooh hmm

Music Video for Chosen Song: Crazy by Gnarls Barkley