The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 13.1844  Thursday, 5 September 2002

From:           Sam Small <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Thursday, 5 Sep 2002 12:24:38 +0100
Subject:        The Supernatural and Modernity

I have been wrestling with one concept in Hamlet for sometime and that
is the Ghost.  If the plays - certainly the serious tragedies - are
universal and could apply to all modern societies, then where would the
Ghost fit in exactly?  With Macbeth's ghosts we can easily imagine that
a man has become haunted with his own crimes and shame - besides, he
alone sees them.  Richard III's ghosts are similar personal hauntings.
But with Hamlet the Ghost is seen by others before Hamlet - the Ghost
drops in on the unsuspecting prince with vital information - but from
beyond the grave.  The idea of contact with the spirit world is very
anti-Christian - which I'm sure Shakespeare was aware.  "Midsummer
Night's Dream" we can accept because it is a declared fantasy piece.
Hamlet is a statement about the real world of politics, power and
morality.  Imagine a modern re-write and imagine the Ghost.  It just
wouldn't work.  The rest of the play is completely "natural".  A video
tape of the deceased father is not good enough because the Prince
converses with him - this is important to the plot - besides, the crime
that the father discovers is only known after the event of his death.  I
find this perplexing and find it impossible to reconcile to modernity.

SAM SMALL
http://www.passioninpieces.co.uk

_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>

DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the
editor assumes no responsibility for them.

Subscribe to Our Feeds

Search

Make a Gift to SHAKSPER

Consider making a gift to support SHAKSPER.