The Hamlet Podcast Episode 05 - The Motive of our Preparations
Sep 10, 2017
Dive into the rich historical backdrop of King Hamlet's victory over Fortenbras and its implications for land ownership. Explore the battle between generations as Young Fortinbras aims to reclaim lost territories, contrasted with the haunting presence of Old Hamlet's ghost. The podcast also examines Denmark's military readiness through Horatio's insights, revealing deeper themes of ambition and conflict while highlighting Shakespeare's masterful language.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Old Chivalry Versus Modern Denmark
- Shakespeare frames Old Hamlet's victory as belonging to a dead chivalric world that no longer fits the present age.
- Conor Hanratty shows this contrast to explain why the ghost and martial imagery feel anachronistic but thematically meaningful.
Text Variants Reveal Historical Texture
- Textual variants like 'co-mart' or 'covenant' reveal editorial and historical uncertainty in Hamlet's lines.
- Hanratty uses such variants to show Shakespeare's careful attention to medieval legal and martial terms.
Shapiro's 1599 Explains Changing Warfare
- Hanratty cites James Shapiro's 1599 to explain how combat changed in Shakespeare's time.
- He uses this historical example to show why Old Hamlet's martial world feels dated.