THE ORIGINS OF HAMLET
(by playwrite, Sir William Shakespeare)
An abstract by
Celestial
Hamlet p62 “The Rough Guide to Shakespeare”
Original: Authenticity of / origin lie cradled in the Middle Ages.
Scholars traced it to 12th Century Scandinavia and a history of the
Danish people by writer known as Saxo Grammaticus Gartier sources have
been unearthed. Prince Amleth as he is known, is referred to as a hero,
albeit less than his Shakespeare ancestor. “Amleth” means “the stupid
one”.
Prince Amleth''s father is publicly killed by his jealous brother
evocatively called Feng who then marries his wife Gremtha. Amleth, as
child, craves revenge but is too young to act. In order to gain ... he
prestends to lose his wits to convince Feng that he is of no threat.
The plot incites convolutions with close shaves, encounters that
creates the tension of suspense. Amleth survives through adulthood and
fulfills long-held / awaited yearning; “Brutal. power, violent, revenge
for company” (as Prince of Denmark). Amleth =Hamlet ?
The Globe
Theatre was instrumental in the staging of all of
Shakespeare''s plays. Theatre''s
transition had been impeded and yet at
the same time motivated by the events that moved the populace. Camus''s
existentialism, a belief in the human race and something above us all,
call it “God” (as you like it); on reflection and sorting of all the
philosophies perhaps best describes the philosophies that accommodated
this era of change and lifestyle practise. Shakespeare''s plays would
represent an aspect, a part of every event, decision, and God forbid
beheadings ! Here are a few examples: Suitors were born out of each
play, a hero to mark, the time of each event eg. Hamlet, a valiant,
noble warrior?! Prospero, a leader self appointed saviour upon a vessel
of change. The weather in The Tempest as tempestuous as the temperament
of characters, issues and demands.
The time
denoted the need for strong leadership whilst undertaking the
challenges of the time, developing theatre and ensuring that theatrical
elements were steadfastly evolving into a tool, an instrument, a rod, a
net (for the fishes of “men”)? Change and Transition was and is
inevitable. Shakespeare, like his counterparts such as Christopher
Marlowe knew this and needed to make a decision; Become part of a
progressive theatre movement or be left behind ... along the way side
of literary exposure. Shakespeare masterfully (yet naively - that''s why
it is masterful) taps into the resources of his time as we are able to
see with “Romeo and Juliet”. The Age of Innocence, youth, and the aged
Queen of England who demanded the affections of the
populace as the
populace''s demands led to her aloneness, isolation and solitariness ...
her loneliness (the queen was to satisfy the populace in respect of her
choice of husband; husbandry was of utmost importance). The Elizabethan
Age was a time of poverty and Financial impoverishment ... the age was
in transition towards the death of the Medieval world and the birth of
the Modern World. Camus''s theory on
existentialism seems to take root in Shakespeare''s life and inevitably
in his literary works; redefining man''s nature. You may well imagine
that confusion abounded.
Amleth = Hamlet ?
Hamlet, a German word meaning original (Heineman Dictionary); was
described to be more of a “Renaissance Man” (Rough Guide to A. Dickson)
Amleth = Hamlet ? Stupid One = Original One ?
The time of staging and production is questionable. However, Hamlet as
a Renaissance
man also insinuates “rebirth”; the inferrence of
ambivalence abounding: (I,ii,7) Preoccupied with suicide, the spirits
are bound to visit as meloncholy is but a poor guest and offers little
companionship for the fruition of the soul.
Now, it has been said, acclaimed if you like, that Hamlet is perhaps
The Greatest Literary work written, staged and produced by Sir William
Shakespeare. Fraught with all the contentious and controversial issues
that make for an outstanding script. Picture an onscreen production
that has the “hottest” thesbians (actors / actresses), the vengence,
the fear, the
language of present time etc. and you have a box office
hit! This may ruin a youth''s version of “the cool factor”, but there is
no escaping the influence or atleast the style that has survived ...
classically timeless in its own right. Our leaders / presidents /
artists; musicians; writers; etc all had these rites of passage and
where they have have cheated ... it shows! How? ... attitude, interest,
communication, language, reading, subversively white collar, street,
home, “kombuis taal” (kitchen language), colloquialism, slang, issues,
themes, socio-economic factors ... etc.
Well, we''ll discover where the shortcut left a hollow in our knowledge.
Before we move along ... Shakespeare''s time has come and gone in other
words, the hairstyles, clothes expressions etc ... no need to resume
where our forefathers have left off. Let''s take our lessons and embrace
the present and our unforetold furtures!?
Back to the Proof of Origin.
Hamlet and Amleth are more similar than not though conclusively many
have chosen not to commit to plotting the exact time, place and author
as Hamlet''s controversy feeds marketability; Stepping into the Unknown.
The play is definitely a reflection of the real and thus Shakespeare
excels in the surreal when we least expect it. He presents
superficiality in order to exalt meaning, purpose and intent.
A play on words, a play on title, a play on time, a play on emotions,
setting, love, relationships, gender, theatre, motives, intention,
meaning, people, honesty, compassion, beliefs and values. Amleth, oops
I meant ... Hamlet or did I at its psychological, anthropological,
historical, political, tragical .... Best?!
Love of Learning and Literacy to All
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