Comparison and Relation Essay

Let the right one compared to Within Temptation - Hand of Sorrow

Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerhol. Their music is described by many as symphonic metal and Gothic metal

I have decided to compare the song 'Hand of Sorrow' with the play 'Let the right one in' as I believe there is a good relation between the two. The song 'Hand of Sorrow' is about a man who without a name that both swore love and also sworn allegiance to some higher hierarchical figure, possibly a king and had only the orders to kill without mercy. As a result the man is tortured by his honor and his love, he could not choose between both because he was denied it by the hand of fate. The man regrets what he has done but cannot go back to undo what he has done. The lyrics themselves hold different meanings and interpretations which can be seen in many ways. I believe the main meaning is that a person cannot have both but most always come to a point where he or she must choose between two paths. The relation of the song to the play is the fact that Oskar must choose between his life or Eli; Oskar is in love with Eli but at the same he knows that Eli is a vampire that kills people in order to live and this makes him reconsider his feelings for her and also makes him reconsider what she truly is - he doesn't know if she is even a bit human or a complete monster. The song closely relates to the play as at the beginning it says 'The child without a name grew up to be the hand'. This relates to Eli being a vampire as initially she was not a vampire to begin with but was turned into one and as a result she has had to come to terms with it and grow up. The part that says 'without a name' could possibly relate to Eli having a different name from when she was born as in the play she mentions that her name was short for Elias and the fact that Oskar is confused because the name would be commonly associated with the male gender - It makes a person consider if Eli is probably secretly a boy at birth but changed his or her's identity because of her being a vampire. The 'hand' is the hand of sorrow which I believe would relate to Eli as she is causing sorrow for any person she meets - she makes Hakan continuously kill for her and since Hakan complies with this we can understand that he has given up on his humanity as humanity would mean that he feels pain for what he does. It is unknown if Eli has been with many men like Hakan and has caused them sorrow too by making them give up their life. The line that says 'kill on demand' I believe relates to Eli because as Eli is a vampire, she has all the characteristics of a vampire including the urge to drink blood therefore she has to 'kill on demand', the 'demand' bit refers to her urge meaning that when she has the urge to kill, it means that her body is demanding blood and as a result she has to kill in order to obtain the blood needed, this is exemplified by when she kills Jocke while he was carrying her because she was in need of blood in act 1 scene 11.
The main part which I believe relates to Oskar is the part in the song where the vocalist Sharon Den Adel says 'He's torn between his honor and the true love of his life. He prayed for both but was denied'. Oskar, which within the play is exemplified by the different scenes in which they spend time together and by the kiss, is in love with Eli and would do anything for her however as seen in act 2 scene 4 and his conversation in Act 2 Scene 7 , Oskar becomes somewhat fearful of Eli as he finds out she is a vampire and has to think about what will happen to him and his mum and everyone else (If they will be killed as well by Eli). The honor is Oskar's life like his school, family, friends and so on. Anybody in Oskar's situation would be torn apart by the decision that has to be made. If Oskar was to choose Eli he will not be able to live a normal life meaning he gives up his honor and if he chooses his honor he will not be able to be with Eli and will have to completely separate from her. Ultimately, he does choose Eli in the end. The part in the song that says 'He prayed for both but was denied' relates to Oskar wanting to be with Eli and live a normal life but cannot because she is a vampire, Oskar would probably have to become the new Hakan meaning that he would have to kill people in order to ensure Eli's survival, he is denied from having both by the hand of fate (The hand that determines a person's outcomes and events - fate caused Oskar to choose between either Eli or his own normal life, fate makes it impossible for him to have both). In the song it says 'The curse of his power tormented his life' I believe this relates to Eli as being a vampire can be closely similar to being cursed as being cursed means you can't escape what has been placed on you, Eli cannot escape her vampire characteristics like the urge to drink blood and kill people, the curse of being doomed to die if she steps in sunlight and the fact that she cannot go inside a building without being invited in first - this to me seems like a curse as she can't escape what she is.
Finally, the last verses -
'Please forgive me for the sorrow, for leaving you in fear
For the dreams we had to silence, that's all they'll ever be
Still I'll be the hand that serves you
Though you'll not see that it is me'
The final verse I believe can in the point of Eli and Hakan seem like Eli asking Hakan for forgiveness for what she has made him to do, she has made him kill so many times that Hakan cannot redeem his humanity in the face of God. The 'please forgive me for the sorrow, for leaving you in fear' relates to when Eli becomes more closer with Oskar than Hakan and Hakan becomes repeatedly fearful of losing her since he knows that he cannot fulfill her needs anymore. (He has been caught by the police and therefore he won't be able to kill inconspicuously anymore which means he won't be able to get blood for Eli)
Overall, The song is essentially and entirely about sorrow and having to choose between two very important and needed pathways even if both paths lead to a path of misery and sadness, Oskar has to choose between Eli and his own life (honor), in the play he picks Eli, which is seen to happen in act 2 scene 18 where they are both on the train traveling away so that they can be together again. To Oskar this may seem as a joyous thing however we, the audience, saw what happened to Hakan, he died at the hands of Eli , this makes us think what if Eli does the exact same thing to Oskar when he grows old and is not needed by her anymore, he would have to live a life of killing and misery because of his love for Eli and in the end be disposed of. This just reiterates the fact that Eli is (In relation to the song) the 'hand of sorrow'.
Steve Bodumde

Rehearsal update 25/11/14 - 28/11/14

On Tuesday we set up the climbing frame which Oskar and Eli use within most of the scenes, the presence of the climbing frame helps us understand the scenes better which focus mainly on Eli and Oskar. We also marked the spaces of where the trees are going to be, the reason for setting up the trees in that way is so that we can have spacial awareness of where the characters are able to move within and where the characters are not allowed to move within. Accuracy is a key factor for when perfecting plays therefore by knowing the space in which our movements can happen, we can attain accuracy in the positions of the characters during the various movement pieces. after fully setting up the scene, we continued with normal rehearsals, we continue rehearsing scene one and finished at around scene 10.

What went well: I am confident that I know my lines for my characters and the rehearsals have allowed me to gain a more thorough understanding of my lines and what is expected of my characters.

Improvements: An improvement would be to work on the scenes in which the dialogue is not well known and to finish all props and things needed for the performance.

On Wednesday: We started the run through for act 2 and managed to succeed up until around act 6, same as before - gave me more understanding of the play itself. During the second part of the lesson we were given the liberty to do our on individual work and I decided to continue further work on my coursework and research into my target.

What went well: We were able to further rehearse act 2 which gives us good time to see where we need to improve on and whether or not we are ready to perform.

Improvements: To learn my lines more thoroughly to the point in which I have no further use for the script.

On Friday: We spent time on this day doing coursework within the computer room and I conducted research into the play, though the findings that I have attained are very limited and is only very minimal in detail. The understanding however I have gained is of tremendous assistance to my character development, the use of the information I have found allows me to analyse the characters in different perspective especially Janne and his relationship with Erik. For the second part of the lesson we continued with rehearsals starting from act one, we managed to get up to scene 9, the rehearsal periods are really helping me to learn my lines as well help the other actors around learn their lines too. Knowing our lines is the final important stage in mastering the play as mastering our lines will allows us to perform the play with fluency and accuracy. As I have stated before accuracy is a key to making a successful and good play.

What went well: I am still confident in my lines and I feel as though I know them very well, I believe I am able to now perform a full run through without having to stop and ask for my current line. Furthermore our movement pieces are becoming very fluent and detailed.

Improvements: My improvements would be to be look over my lines for Jimmy - to make sure that I have my lines fully memorised in my head. More research to be conducted on the play.

Writing in role - 3 for each character

Janne feelings towards Oskar

I swear that kid Oskar is nothing but trouble for Erik, he constantly does nothing but cause trouble. It would be a blessing if he could just stay with his mum, at least that way he won't annoy me and Erik. I try to get along with him but he doesn't seem to try and make the effort. I even tried playing droughts with him but he just rejected me. Well if he does not like me then I don't like him and I couldn't care less if he thinks i'm a nuisance. Erik would be much better of without Oskar in his life. All Erik needs is me, we could go out and do stuff together like we used to, all the fun stuff and all the drinking, those were the good times before Oskar came and interfered in it for no reason.
I don't see why Erik won't just leave him with his mother, he stays there most of the time anyway, he might as well just stay there forever and stay out of Erik's life.
I also think he should cut his hair, its grown way too long.


Jimmy's thoughts on Oskar hurting Jonny

So Jonny went to school and got himself hurt, he's such a weakling, how can he let some kid hurt him like that, I never knew I have such a weakling of a brother. That kid, i'm gonna get him, nobody hurts family and disrespects us. when I see him i'm gonna fucking cut him in the face and leave a fucking scar on his cheek and eye, maybe i'll cut of his ear that way him and Jonny will be even. Tomorrow i'm gonna cut his face but first i'm gonna toy with him and make him pee his pants. Jonny needs to grow some balls, that little **** keeps on going on about only wanting to hurt him a little bit. Why is he acting like such a ****, does he not know what that kid did to him, i'm gonna make that kid regret he ever did what he did. Hope that stupid teacher Mr Avila is not there though, if he is there then I won't be able to do anything.
Jonny needs to man up or else i'm gonna hit it myself and cause him more than just ear damage.


Torkel's terrified thoughts during the Hakan killing scene

Before:

Damn, i must have had too much to drink, I can barely walk straight. The wife is gonna be so angry that I have had so much to drink, she's probably gonna kill me. Damn, I can't walk straight. To be honest, I needed that drink with the baby and the whole unemployment thing, I don't think I can cope much longer. What the hell there's some guy looking at me strangely, I wonder what he wants, he just keeps on staring at me. Oh he just wants to know the time, wait, what the fuc............

During:

Ahh ahh damn my head hurts so much, where the hell am I? Whoah what the fuck, why am I upside down and why the hell does he have a sharp knife. Oh my God Oh my God, he wants to kill me, someone please help me before this lunatic kills me, no why why, I have a baby at home, I can't die now. Please God Please God I don't wanna die now. NO! NO! NO! Fuck Fuck ahhhh........