Important birthday coming up. Exactly 400 years ago modern man was born.
That’s when Hamlet, Prince of Denmark was first performed. Intentionally or not … probably not … William Shakespeare created a character who seems to suffer as many of the curses of contemporary life as its possible for one rich kid to have. Problems with a stepfather. Hamlet’s got’em. Low self-esteem based on living in the shadow of powerful father … and as for unresolved oedipal feelings — puh-leeze. Between the real Oedipus and Freud you won’t find a more Oedipally challenged individual than the Prince.
The dilemmas and desires of Hamlet pose new challenges to each generation of actors … and are a constant source of re-newed inquiry for academics. To think of College dropout/mother-fixated/ — and after 400 years still the Prince.
(Hosted by Michael Goldfarb)
Guests:
Simon Russell Beale, performing the role of “Hamlet” in the U.S. for the Royal National Theatre;
Stephen Greenblatt, preeminent Shakespeare scholar, Harvard University professor, and author of, “Hamlet in Purgatory.”