Hamlet in Gossip Girl

Clare Doncaster

GREED

Theme of Greed in Hamlet

For

my concept, I chose greed. I believe this theme was the driving force of Claudius actions to kick off the entire plot of Hamlet. Claudius kills his own brother in order to take control of Denmark and take his throne; this leads to the death and disaster that is Hamlet.

Art Direction

Gossip Girl

his struck me as a wonderful art direction because the entire series is set in the !pper "ast #ide; each scene and episode is filled with glamour and wealth and betrayal, and for my production of Hamlet, that is e$actly the direction I wanted to go in.

Common Elements

Hamlet %amlets father is killed, and his uncle takes over the throne and Denmark. &phelia is desperate for %amlet to love her, but he is trying to protect her from the conse'uences of being involved with her. (ertrude is trying to gain back %amlets love for her.

Gossip Girl Chucks father dies in an accident, and his uncle surfaces after being overseas for many years, to become Chucks legal guardian and swindle his way into the head position of )ass Industries. )lair has been in love with Chuck for many years, and he does not want to be with her because he knows he can never make her happy. *ily is trying to gain back Chucks trust.

Characters

(ertrude Claudius +ing %amlet %amlet &phelia

Production Plot

For my production of the play, I chose to highlight certain scenes and events. he plot focuses on the death of the +ing, and his replacement by his brother, he betrayal felt by %amlet when his uncle takes the throne, %amlet no longer trusting his mother, ,nd his attempt to protect &phelia, while he plans his revenge.

Ophelia
&phelia

loves %amlet deeply, but he will not return the sentiment. #he tries to understand his new madness, but he will not let her in, as hard as she tries. Nicest Things- Kate Nash http-..www.youtube.com.watch/ v0IyoC'1l21'I

King Hamlet
,lthough

he only appears a few times during the production, his presence is felt throughout the play. %e is shown as a cold, scorned man, desperate for revenge to be taken. #mile3 *ily ,llen http-..www.youtube.com.watch/ v0n4&#56s1"tw

Gertrude

he mother of %amlet In this production she is the epitome of a high society matriarch, whose main focus rests on money and power. #he does, however, yearn for %amlet to trust and love her again. It is clear that she does not truly love Claudius, and that the marriage was purely a power e$change to secure her own place on the throne. Maneater- Nelly Fertado http://www.youtu e.com/watch!"#o$%&'(NhMpo

Claudius

%is motivations are clearly for power and control- he is the character that most demonstrates greed. %is character is cast as a slea7y business man in over his head with his new power over the company. ,lthough he is blood related to %amlet, he feels no love for him in any way, and purely uses him as a pawn. Tessellate- )lt-* http://www.youtu e.com/watch!"#o$%&'(NhMpo

Hamlet

he focal character of the production; he is presented as a heartless young man ignoring his true love for his beloved father. %is hate for his mother and Claudius is e$tremely obvious throughout the whole production. %is careful plotting is talked out through solilo'uies in his bedroom. +ra'y- Gnarles ,ar-ley http://www.youtu e.com/watch!"# d.,/(0Mh1w