1st Place, Review
2023-24, Division 2, News Writing
By Parker Lamson
The Sailors’ Log
Mona Shores HS
Madness. Tragedy. Pain.
You name it, the Shakespearean play Hamlet has it.
This play revolves around prince Hamlet, a man who goes through madness, tragedy, pain, and the deep contemplation of life or death.
It is the story of the ghost of a vengeful king, who haunts prince Hamlet, his son, in hopes that the son will avenge his tragic death.
Most people recognize the quote “To be or not to be, that is the question,” but many do not realize it is from Hamlet, a Shakespearean tragedy about a son who wants vengeance for his father’s death.
In doing so, Hamlet drives himself past the boundaries of sanity, the ghost of his father trailing behind to pursue his vengeance.
Death lies in the darkest corners of this play, the shock and betrayal of characters ever so thrilling.
Fate is doled out with the echoing of clashes of steel or poison dripping on the lips of the unfortunate.
Hamlet faces charges after being caught committing multiple murders.
All who received the sharp end of his sword were foes whom he believed had a connection to his father’s demise.
At Hamlet’s own end, he tells his woes to the prince of Denmark who comes to rule Hamlet’s kingdom in its time of despair.
In honor of Hamlet’s tragic tales, he receives a burial fit for a warrior.
Revenge is a dangerous goal, but for Hamlet, it gave him a purpose, a reason to live in times of wondering whether it was worth going on or not.
When you hear the word “tragedy,” oftentimes we think of sorrow and immediate action or death.
While this play has these, we see the main character Hamlet push this action further away as he considers the reasoning and point for what he is doing.
Hamlet encapsulates a vengeful heart and a thoughtful mind perfectly, battling with right and wrong.
Shakespeare created a philosophical work of art through entertainment. His work may seem old or dull, even pointless with the age of his literature.
I am not going to say Shakespeare’s work is “timeless” because it isn’t. His English is old, so old that he himself invented many words we use today.
But what makes his work so special is that it isn’t timeless; in fact, it is a piece of history.
Museums display art from many time periods, we consider them treasures from times we can’t revisit, paint strokes from people we can no longer meet. Shakespeare is like that.
While an ordinary person can only live a single life, writers and readers can live hundreds more.
So why not live one from a couple hundred years ago? Hamlet is sure to take you on one thrilling and tragic ride.
NW-08. Review
Review should present opinions, observations and evaluations of films, books, television, recordings, concerts, plays, restaurants and other things of interest to the publication’s readers.
Judging Criteria
- Sharp, attention-getting lead that clarifies subject
- Gives a short summary or adequate information about subject
- Discusses strengths and weaknesses of subject
- Uses specific examples to support opinion
- Displays knowledge of subject
- Shows thought and research
- Colorful, lively presentation; effective form/style
- Proper diction/grammar