“HER SPEECH IS NOTHING”: THE COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTION OF SONGS IN OPHELIA’S MAD SCENE

Year 2020, Issue: 39, 105 - 116, 14.04.2020

Fatma Zeynep Bilge

https://doi.org/10.30794/pausbed.684026

Abstract

Music and drama are known to have a close relationship since the birth of Greek tragedy. This study suggests that Ophelia uses songs and singing as an alternative language in communicating her emotions. In IV.v, which is also referred to as Ophelia’s mad scene, she comments upon her personal experiences concerning her relationship with Hamlet and the death of her father Polonius through singing. This paper aims at displaying the reason why Ophelia requires a different mode of communication other than verbal language. After discussing the submissive and silent role that is attributed to Ophelia in Hamlet, the fragments of songs she sings in IV.v are analysed through a close reading of the text. While investigating what these songs indicate in this particular context, musical conventions of Shakespeare’s time are also discussed.

Keywords

Shakespeare, Hamlet, Ophelia, singing characters

“SÖZLERİNDE BİR ANLAM YOK”: OPHELİA’NIN DELİLİK SAHNESİNDEKİ ŞARKILARIN İLETİŞİMSEL İŞLEVİ

Abstract

Müzik ve tiyatronun antik Yunan tragedyasının doğuşundan bu yana yakın ilişki içinde oldukları bilinmektedir. Bu çalışma Ophelia’nın duygularını karşı tarafa iletmek için şarkıları ve şarkı söylemeyi alternatif bir dil olarak kullandığını iddia etmekte. Ophelia’nın delilik sahnesi olarak da tanımlanan IV. Perde V. Sahne boyunca Ophelia, Hamlet ile olan ilişkisine ve babası Polonius’un ölümüne ilişkin deneyimlerini şarkılar aracılığıyla yorumlar. Bu makale Ophelia’nın neden sözlü dile alternatif bir dil kullanmaya ihtiyacı olduğunu gözler önüne sermeyi amaçlamaktadır. Hamlet oyununda Ophelia’ya yüklediği itaatkar ve sessiz rolün tartışılmasının ardından Ophelia’nın IV. Perde V. Sahnede söylediği şarkılar yakın okuma tekniğiyle incelenir. Bu şarkıların söz konusu bağlamda ne anlama geldiklerinin incelenmesi sürecinde Shakespeare’in dönemindeki müzikal uzlaşımlar da tartışılmaktadır.

Keywords

Shakespeare, Hamlet, Ophelia, şarkı söyleyen karakterler

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