Welcome To Hamlet

For once, I don’t know how to start one of these things. Phew! Glad that’s over.

On the first day of Hamlet, my Shaka gave to me, a prologue to a tragedy.

That doesn’t beat well. I may not do it again. And who is Shaka? Is that what we’re calling Shakespeare?

This month, I had the pleasure of reading William Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Hamlet. Fun fact: That’s not even the full title of the play! Betchya didn’t know that, didya? I sure didn’t. The true title is The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. See? Stick with me kid, you might learn something.

This is the first play in my self-imposed Shakespeare challenge that I have read before. I can’t say for sure how many times but it’s more than one and less than five. I’ve never seen it live in a theater, but that’s not saying much. The only plays I’ve seen live were Richard III when I was in High School and Othello when in college. I did, however, watch the most excellent Kenneth Branagh film adaptation of the Denmark play (does anybody call it that) a handful of times. I even purchased the DVD well over a decade ago. Wow, maybe it was even 15 years back? 20? Time has no meaning anymore. But I digress. I probably have Branagh’s film around here somewhere. As memory serves, it’s awesome.

Anyway, that’s my history with The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, such as it is. I have never claimed to be a Shakespeare scholar, far from it, in fact. I just enjoy reading his words and I find pleasure in gleaning meaning from his glorious prose. The fact that Hamlet is considered by many to be The Bard’s greatest work is not lost on me. It’s hard to argue that opinion. Though I won’t be able to know if it’s my favorite Shakespeare play before my three years of reading is through, I can report that, having re-read it now with a 42-year-old set of eyes in my skull, it is most definitely going to be in the running. Because come on, how could it not?

Seven Days Of Hamlet

So here it is, ya’ll. I hope you’re strapped in tight, cuz this is gonna be a good one!

Since May, I’ve been splitting my Shakespeare Reads into two bloggys per each. Part One has been Acts I, II, and III. Part Two has always been Acts IV, V, and a Reveal where I research what I missed in my initial read. That’s right, I’m experiencing these plays cold. In other words, I don’t go online and get summaries, analysis, or any kind of help while I’m in the throes of the reading. It makes for quite an exhilarating (sometimes frustrating) experience, but it is always entertaining. For me it is, anyway. Because I’m clearly some kind of cheeky psychopath.

But this week, instead of splitting Hamlet into two bloggys, I’ve decided to give each Act its own space. I would love it if you would read along with me. Let me know where my notes go awry and call me out on all my multitudes of wrong. Though you might be hard pressed to root my foibles on this one! Between you and me and my lovely, snoring wife over here, I kinda nailed Hamlet.

<Brushes no dust off shoulder>

I think I slam bammed this one, anyway! It takes place on Mars, right? Right?!

But how can you have seven days of Hamlet if there are only five acts in the play?

Very astute of you to ask. Being that today is Sunday and I’ve already written a bunch of prologuey junk here, let’s go ahead and call this Day One. Then the five acts brings us through Day Six. So I guess I’ll just have to come up with something special and significant for Saturday, the seventh day, a day usually set aside for rest. But not this week. No sir!

No! Sleep! Til Hamlet!

Hamlet!

Are your excited? I’m excited.

Are you experienced? I’m experienced.

Are you amped for tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow? I’m amped for tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. Even though that’s Macbeth’s line; not Hamlet’s, you goose!

Ahhh! Still learning!

See you in the play. I hear it’s the thing. Wherein we’ll catch the conscience of the king.

Now that’s Hamlet, baby!

Can’t wait for your next fix?
Eager for more amateur analysis of the Bard’s greatest works?
Head on over to my Shakespeare page to wet your Willie!