Time is Qualitative and Quantitative

One of the five themes of existentialism is time. It states that "lived time" cannot be measured the same way as clock times can be. Words like "almost" or "soon" are all interpreted differently by many people, thus contributing to the idea that everybody has a different perception of time.
Children in long car rides often ask, "Are we there yet?". The parent's response of "not yet" to the parent just means "a little while longer" while children interpret that to mean "not at this moment but ask again after we have been driving for another 1 minute". Since every child is bored, time seems to pass by ever so slowly, since they are not actually living.
Another very relatable example is the one minute before writing in in-class essay. Everybody always claims, "This is the longest minute ever!" even though scientifically speaking, each minute occupies the same amount of time. It's all about perception of what is going on at that specific moment and how people decide to actually utilize that time for actually living. So even though we are "fundamentally time-bound beings", we are not actually bounded by time. If anything, I think we are always doing activities that escape the constancy of time. Time can pass by very quickly or slowly and rarely ever seems to be passing by in a sustained manner. "Time flies by when you're having fun". Thus, time seems to have a direct correlation with living. Actually living.


Shrek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vUBsTJYK28

Sweet Ophelia

"Sweet Ophelia"- Zella Day

One of my all-time favorite songs is "Sweet Ophelia" by Zella Day. I never really understood it before reading Hamlet, but it all makes sense now! This song is about the loss of innocence, just like Ophelia's innocence was lost over the course of the play.

Lyrics (in short):
Believe me now, you're too young girl
Cherry pie and your gold curls
Growin' up like a grapevine
Wrapped around you in due time
Sweet Ophelia!
When young blood escapes
Vows that break go up, up away
Singing like it's a full moon
Careless now that he has you
Turns you on to the right songs
Promises that you're hooked on

The song begins to talk about how Ophelia is very young and innocent, but she gradually grows up and matures "like a grapevine". This could relate to our time motif and how it plays a role in the development of the plot over time, since so much happens in such a short period. Even watching Hamlet the movie, we can see Ophelia's change, as she was once a very jubilant character who takes on a more melancholy appearance. The "vows" mentions could also be Ophelia and Hamlet's vows of love to each other, as they once did proclaim their love for each other, that are broken off after Hamlet claims "I loved you not" (Act 3).
Then, the song and story-line progress to Ophelia singing her songs about Hamlet's old promises to love her in her crazed madness. The song that alludes to the Saint Valentine custom could be Ophelia woefully mourning as she drawls, "How should I your true love know from another one?" She was "hooked on" to the promises of Hamlet's affection, until they were broken, just as she was. Finally, the song then dies out, just like Ophelia did.

:)

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