Your writing consistently meets a high standard. Your analysis of Hamlet’s opening scene is brilliant, particularly your observation: “Why should a guard be ‘sick at heart’?” You skillfully blend humour and insight, making Shakespeare’s work feel familiar and unsettling in the best possible way.
Always fascinated by Shakespeare ghosts in performance. Hamlet Sr is a weird one too, because it skirts the "it's all in his head" stuff typically used in productions of Macbeth (I think Banquo turns up in the Patrick Stewart BBC one, but it's less effective than McKellen going off his nut and drooling). The Nicol Williamson and Richard Burton Hamlets had just lights (and Gielgud's mellifluous voice in the latter). And if I remember correctly, the Olivier Hamlet Sr was Olivier's voice? But that might have been peak Freudian Hamlet era ...
I quite like both approaches but after a lot of Freudian Hamlet I do enjoy a production that just lets it be a literal ghost story! The comparison with Banquo is really interesting because then it really is only one character who sees the ghost. I’ve got something on Macbeth lined up…
I would not have remembered Bernardo and Francisco! Though - for me - and interesting side aspect of Hamlet is the subplots with trivial characters (Rozenkranz and Guildenstern most famously).
But, more on topic, there is a lot of what we'd call horror is Shakespeare. The supernatural wasn't cut off from daily life then as it is now (though philosophers like Horatio may have tried to do so). The witches in Macbeth are quite terrifying. Hamlet's ghost is both terrifying and pitiable - I, at least, believe the ghost is real... Though the greatest horror, in my view, is the human stupidity of Lear - and the human brutality that occurs as a result.
I need to re-read the Hamlet - and others.
Thanks for a very interesting piece - you do make me think about things is a new way.
Thanks so much! I've really enjoyed compiling this series, and don't worry, Macbeth and Lear are on the near horizon... I also like believing that the ghost is real. I think it's scarier and, as you say, sadder and more moving to believe it's the old king returning to his son.
That's very true! I also think it's a bit anachronistic to see the ghost as some sort of psychological projection. Ghosts and witches weren't questioned in Shakespeare's day. Though the question of whether the ghost is a devil tempting Hamlet - which he himself brings up - is very much within the context of the play, and one reason (or excuse) for Hamlet's inaction.
The slasher movie is the genre that springs to mind here. Scream might be my favourite example because of its use of Drew Barrymore in such an expendable role.
I was trying to think of a Stephen King novel that opens in this way but actually they are few and far between because character development is so central to his plots that the horror often comes after you have met the main character, Under The Dome is a pretty good example though.
I think that's absolutely right, Scream is such a classic example. You raise a really interesting point about actors, actually, it's making me wonder whether a bait and switch with a famous face was ever possible in this way on the early modern stage. On the one hand it's much less likely that you'd get one of the best and most famous actors in London to appear for a single scene since they'd have expected the biggest roles as part of their relationship with their company. Smaller roles like the guardsmen would be more likely to go to the less skilled or less experienced members. On the other hand, someone who wasn't originally expected to appear in a particular play could perhaps have popped up in a single scene as a cameo just for fun and to delight an audience. I'm going to go and have a dig and see if anyone has written about this...
I keep thinking about how beautifully executed the cold open was in A24’s adaptation of Macbeth. I hope they take on Hamlet, too!
Agreed, some beautiful cinematography! I'm using a photo of the witches from that version in an upcoming article
Love the pic.
It's lovely isn't it?
Your writing consistently meets a high standard. Your analysis of Hamlet’s opening scene is brilliant, particularly your observation: “Why should a guard be ‘sick at heart’?” You skillfully blend humour and insight, making Shakespeare’s work feel familiar and unsettling in the best possible way.
Shakespeare did it all first! Excellent article, thank you!💕
Thanks Sheila! He certainly knew what he was doing :)
Always fascinated by Shakespeare ghosts in performance. Hamlet Sr is a weird one too, because it skirts the "it's all in his head" stuff typically used in productions of Macbeth (I think Banquo turns up in the Patrick Stewart BBC one, but it's less effective than McKellen going off his nut and drooling). The Nicol Williamson and Richard Burton Hamlets had just lights (and Gielgud's mellifluous voice in the latter). And if I remember correctly, the Olivier Hamlet Sr was Olivier's voice? But that might have been peak Freudian Hamlet era ...
I quite like both approaches but after a lot of Freudian Hamlet I do enjoy a production that just lets it be a literal ghost story! The comparison with Banquo is really interesting because then it really is only one character who sees the ghost. I’ve got something on Macbeth lined up…
I love Hamlet but wow, it is no less disturbing with each return. I enjoyed this piece very much.
Thank you Kerry! I agree, and I love it when a production scares you in a brand new way…
Excellent post, Dr. King, thank you so much for sharing. I'll never think of a cold open the same way again!
Thanks Alex!!
I would not have remembered Bernardo and Francisco! Though - for me - and interesting side aspect of Hamlet is the subplots with trivial characters (Rozenkranz and Guildenstern most famously).
But, more on topic, there is a lot of what we'd call horror is Shakespeare. The supernatural wasn't cut off from daily life then as it is now (though philosophers like Horatio may have tried to do so). The witches in Macbeth are quite terrifying. Hamlet's ghost is both terrifying and pitiable - I, at least, believe the ghost is real... Though the greatest horror, in my view, is the human stupidity of Lear - and the human brutality that occurs as a result.
I need to re-read the Hamlet - and others.
Thanks for a very interesting piece - you do make me think about things is a new way.
Thanks so much! I've really enjoyed compiling this series, and don't worry, Macbeth and Lear are on the near horizon... I also like believing that the ghost is real. I think it's scarier and, as you say, sadder and more moving to believe it's the old king returning to his son.
That's very true! I also think it's a bit anachronistic to see the ghost as some sort of psychological projection. Ghosts and witches weren't questioned in Shakespeare's day. Though the question of whether the ghost is a devil tempting Hamlet - which he himself brings up - is very much within the context of the play, and one reason (or excuse) for Hamlet's inaction.
The slasher movie is the genre that springs to mind here. Scream might be my favourite example because of its use of Drew Barrymore in such an expendable role.
I was trying to think of a Stephen King novel that opens in this way but actually they are few and far between because character development is so central to his plots that the horror often comes after you have met the main character, Under The Dome is a pretty good example though.
I think that's absolutely right, Scream is such a classic example. You raise a really interesting point about actors, actually, it's making me wonder whether a bait and switch with a famous face was ever possible in this way on the early modern stage. On the one hand it's much less likely that you'd get one of the best and most famous actors in London to appear for a single scene since they'd have expected the biggest roles as part of their relationship with their company. Smaller roles like the guardsmen would be more likely to go to the less skilled or less experienced members. On the other hand, someone who wasn't originally expected to appear in a particular play could perhaps have popped up in a single scene as a cameo just for fun and to delight an audience. I'm going to go and have a dig and see if anyone has written about this...
I hope so! I’d love to think that might’ve happened.
The Drew Barrymores of the Shakespearean stage!