Hamlet v. Macbeth
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Hamlet v. Macbeth
Silly poll question. This is not a measure of which play is better, just an opinion poll as to who would win in a fight. We know both are skilled at swordplay, so who would it be?
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It's been a couple years since I read Macbeth, and I've only seen Hamlet as a movie (from 1996.. seemed pretty faithful), but I had to vote for Hamlet. He's younger, and he seemed like a nicer guy, and the nice guys are supposed to win, right? Oh, wait, this is Shakespeare, the nice guy never wins...
hamlet and macbeth
it all really depends on the motivation, i feel.
if macbeth's henpecking wife is nagging him to kill hamlet, then hamlet's goin down, sucka.
if macbeth's henpecking wife is nagging him to kill hamlet, then hamlet's goin down, sucka.
Macbeth
Macbeth is older, sneakier and will do anything it takes to win. If it had been Macbeth over in Denmark instead of Hamlet, the Uncle would not have made it through the night.
Hamlet gets conflicted trying to decide what to do. Macbeth gets conflicted after having done his dirty work.
Macbeth would win in a fight. It wouldn't be pretty, but then neither character is, really.
Hamlet gets conflicted trying to decide what to do. Macbeth gets conflicted after having done his dirty work.
Macbeth would win in a fight. It wouldn't be pretty, but then neither character is, really.
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I must point out, however, that Macbeth would only take that first strike if somebody, most likely a woman (a witch or Lady M.), were telling him to do so from the sidelines.
Hm. Going to the source, while Hamlet seems confident:
HORATIO You will lose this wager, my lord.
HAMLET I do not think so: since he went into France, I
have been in continual practise: I shall win at the
odds.
(Act V, Scene II)
Macbeth is overconfident:
MACBETH As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, To one of woman born.
(Act V, Scene VIII)
And his overconfidence is his weakness.
Hm. Going to the source, while Hamlet seems confident:
HORATIO You will lose this wager, my lord.
HAMLET I do not think so: since he went into France, I
have been in continual practise: I shall win at the
odds.
(Act V, Scene II)
Macbeth is overconfident:
MACBETH As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, To one of woman born.
(Act V, Scene VIII)
And his overconfidence is his weakness.
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Hamlet
I'm voting for Hamlet because he seems more passionate. In an actual sword-fight (the subject of this quandary), he'd have vigour and verve and whatnot.
Plus, I just like Hamlet a whole lot more. I mean, that soliloquy... he's deep. A philosopher, even. In modern terms, he'd be an angsty goth, whereas Macbeth would merely be a dishonest CEO.
Plus, I just like Hamlet a whole lot more. I mean, that soliloquy... he's deep. A philosopher, even. In modern terms, he'd be an angsty goth, whereas Macbeth would merely be a dishonest CEO.
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Hamlet vs Macbeth in the ultimate smackdown
There are only two reasonably likely outcomes:
1. Macbeth cuts through Hamlet like cream cheese. He was in the way.
2. Hamlet manages to vanquish Macbeth but only at the cost of his own life. Tie game.
So, on average, the odds are on Macbeth. Add to that the fact that Hamlet is a mama's boy, which places him well in the center of the "born of woman" category. That pretty much cinches it.
1. Macbeth cuts through Hamlet like cream cheese. He was in the way.
2. Hamlet manages to vanquish Macbeth but only at the cost of his own life. Tie game.
So, on average, the odds are on Macbeth. Add to that the fact that Hamlet is a mama's boy, which places him well in the center of the "born of woman" category. That pretty much cinches it.
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I'd go with Macbeth. He's from scotland, and he's got more experience. I don't think that Hamlet's indecision would be that much of a handicap in a straight up fight, though.
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Hammy vs. Beth
As an Orson welees buff, I gotta go with Macbeth. I can't help picturing a whining, pontificating Olivier crying about the meaning of it all while being squashed by Orson's pure egotistical rage.
Speaking of Welles and Olivier, compare their respective Othello performances sometime. Orson shines next to Larry's hilariously bad "Amos and Andy" routine.
Ashley
Speaking of Welles and Olivier, compare their respective Othello performances sometime. Orson shines next to Larry's hilariously bad "Amos and Andy" routine.
Ashley
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15-Minute Macbeth
I can answer your second question. No, there is not a 15-Minute Macbeth (at least, not by Tom Stoppard).
The 15-Minute Hamlet hails from a series of pieces Stoppard wrote for an adventurous theater group in the '70s. Eventually they all came together as Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth, with Dogg's Hamlet concerning the preparations for a school performance of The 15-Minute Hamlet, and Cahoot's Macbeth about a troupe of actors performing a stripped-down (but still longer than 15 minutes) living room version of Macbeth in a police state.
And, for the record, Macbeth is not a geezer. Typically, he's portrayed as being in his 30s, while Hamlet -- the perpetual student -- is typically in his mid-20s (although I've also seen both played older -- or at least played by older actors).
The 15-Minute Hamlet hails from a series of pieces Stoppard wrote for an adventurous theater group in the '70s. Eventually they all came together as Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth, with Dogg's Hamlet concerning the preparations for a school performance of The 15-Minute Hamlet, and Cahoot's Macbeth about a troupe of actors performing a stripped-down (but still longer than 15 minutes) living room version of Macbeth in a police state.
And, for the record, Macbeth is not a geezer. Typically, he's portrayed as being in his 30s, while Hamlet -- the perpetual student -- is typically in his mid-20s (although I've also seen both played older -- or at least played by older actors).
Craig J. Quack,
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None at all. The poll was spawned by a brief email exchange I had with Glytch, another comics author, over which play was better. Suffice to say I think it comes down to a matter of preference.Wikkit wrote:Greg, did this poll have any effect on you adapting 15 Minute Hamlet to the comic medium, or were you already planning on doing that?
I've wanted to do a comic version of Hamlet for years. I can't find the old message boards at CBR, and they may just be gone now, but I was going to point to evidence where I mentioned the idea of adapting the 15-minute Hamlet over two years ago. No matter, I won't be the first or last.
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