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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 3.15.97: Top | Help
I agree that Hamlet is 30, but there is one other inconsistency
in the text regarding his age. He is several times referred
to as young, or a youth. Thirty was not a youthful age in
Shakespeare's day. You could argue that they are referring
to "Young Hamlet" as distinct from his father "Old Hamlet",
but as I recall, that doesn't really seem to be the way it is
used.Personally, I think it is interesting to see productions that
play him at different ages, as it makes the interpretaion of
his behavior and relationships, especially with his mother,
different. Except for the gravedigger scene, which fairly
firmly says he is 30, I think the text can suppport playing
him either in his early 20's or at 30. I think 15 at the
beginning and 30 at the end is not a useful interpretaion.But that's just my opinion - and one of the things I love
best about this play is that you can play it many different
ways and have it work, or at least be interesting. It is
a very robust play. I don't think there could vere be a
"definitive" Hamlet. There is no one "right" way to
interpret the play that would reveral all others to be "wrong"
But I digress.Posted by Bombadil on March 21, 1997 at 12:00:00
In Reply to "Thirty is a dangerous age, Cynthia" posted by Hamlet on March 21, 1997 at 11:29:08
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 3.15.97: Top | Help