Hamlet, Prince of Denmark /
Shakespeare, William,1564-1616author.
Edwards, Philip,1923-editor.
Hirschfield, Heather,writer of introduction.
This third edition offers a completely new introduction to this rich, mysterious play, examining Shakespeare's transformation of an ancient Nordic legend into a drama whose philosophical, psychological, political, and spiritual complexities have captivated audiences world-wide for over 400 years. Focusing on the ways in which Shakespeare reimagined the revenge plot and its capacity to investigate the human experiences of love, grief, obligation, and memory, the author explores the play's cultural and theatrical contexts, its intricate textual issues, its vibrant critical traditions and controversies, and its history of performance and adaptation by celebrated directors, actors, and authors. Supplemented by an updated reading list, extensive illustrations, and helpful appendices, this edition also features revised commentary notes explicitly designed for the student reader, offering the very best in contemporary criticism of this great tragedy.
Previous edition: 2003.
Includes bibliographical references.
Preface -- List of abbreviations and short titles -- Introduction. Welcoming the stranger -- Staging revenge -- Staging the stage -- Staging the text -- Critical responses -- The play's the thing -- Stages and screens -- Note on the text -- List of characters -- The play -- Reading list -- Appendices (Philip Edwards). 1. Textual analysis -- 2. Names.
This third edition offers a completely new introduction to this rich, mysterious play, examining Shakespeare's transformation of an ancient Nordic legend into a drama whose philosophical, psychological, political, and spiritual complexities have captivated audiences world-wide for over 400 years. Focusing on the ways in which Shakespeare reimagined the revenge plot and its capacity to investigate the human experiences of love, grief, obligation, and memory, the author explores the play's cultural and theatrical contexts, its intricate textual issues, its vibrant critical traditions and controversies, and its history of performance and adaptation by celebrated directors, actors, and authors. Supplemented by an updated reading list, extensive illustrations, and helpful appendices, this edition also features revised commentary notes explicitly designed for the student reader, offering the very best in contemporary criticism of this great tragedy.
Hamlet (Legendary character)
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
Hamlet (Legendary character)
Hamlet (Shakespeare, William)
Kings and rulers.