Leila - HamLab Reflections

HamLab has been one of my favorite moments in my academic career.  Hamlet is one of my favorite plays ever since the first time I read it in high school.  The reason this collaboration was so much fun, while also very educational, is because it brought my education around full circle.  During my senior year of high school we read Hamlet and one of our assignments was to memorize and perform a soliloquy from the play.  I chose Hamlet’s “Oh vengeance!” speech in Act II, scene ii—to this day I still have it memorized four years later and I truly do not think I will ever forget Shakespeare’s compelling lines.   

Helping Ms. Barrios' class was both sentimental and interesting, reminding me of my days in high school and thinking how frighteningly fast time goes by.  Deconstructing every word and line of our assigned soliloquy with the high school students gave me personally a better understanding of the meaning of the play.  It was very helpful to look at the text as a performance piece—read aloud and to an audience.  Obviously, it is clear that Hamlet is a play, but sometimes when reading alone to myself, I forget that Shakespeare’s words were meant to be performed to and perceived by an audience.  I absolutely loved watching Ms. Barrios’ students perform parts of their soliloquy in front of the class.  That takes a lot of bravery and courage and I was more than impressed.  I would never have been able to do that on the spot as a senior in high school, probably not even as a senior in college!  Saying the words out loud and focusing on the punctuation and different beats helped extract more meaning for me and I hope for the students I helped as well!  

 In our particular soliloquy in Act IV, scene iv, we focused on the alliterations as well as the bloody and violent language used.  By focusing on these particulars we were able to delve into the subconscious of Hamlet and see him battling with his inner thoughts and whether or not to finally take action.  By splitting the soliloquy up into different beats and units we were also able to focus on how his mind works, constantly fighting internally against his different emotions—whether to act or not to act…that is the question!  Thank you so much Professor Werlin and Ms. Barrios for designing HamLab. It was so much fun and I think everyone gained more knowledge of the art of performing Shakespeare as well as understanding his language more clearly.  I am so sad HamLab only lasted a week and I wish I got to know my students better and for a longer period of time!!  Eric, Joseph, Leslie, and Jose were all amazing!!