Hamlet (Pre-1800)

/Hamlet/ is the most written-about of all literary texts. In this seminar we will examine its enduring centrality, which its lurid preoccupation with revenge, murder, incest, and ambition cannot fully explain. What did it mean in 1599, when first performed, and how has its meaning changed, as evident in modern editions and films? Why is the character Hamlet often mistaken for a real person? How has the play contributed to philosophy, art, and conceptions of self and gender throughout its history? Materials include the playtext in various renaissance and modern editions and contextual sources (literary and non-literary texts, art, film, and criticism).