Hamlet

When I was at Ryerson, I took Hamlet in an English survey course. It was part of a seemingly endless stream of Shakespeare plays that I read, but never saw performed. The modern equivalent would be reading scripts of the television show, Seinfeld, without ever meeting the characters. It was boring.

That changed last night. I saw Hamlet for the first time.

I happen to live near Stratford, Ontario. Every year it has a Shakespearian Festival. The experience is always magical. Among many of the Bard’s works are Broadway musicals and plays penned by others. There is something for everyone.

Even if I don’t like a play, the costuming and staging are remarkable. In last night’s version of Hamlet, a billiard table appeared onstage in a matter of seconds without anyone making a sound. The lights came on and it was there magically. Stratford is a theatrical experience in a small town that matches any other I have seen anywhere. It really is that special.

Hamlet didn’t disappoint. It’s a tale where one murder eventually starts the wheels turning that eventually kill every major character in the play. There is room for merriment, though. The play isn’t serious all of the time.

Like the movie, Casablanca, I soon became aware of some famous quotes from Hamlet, including “Good night sweet prince.”

What I think makes Hamlet timeless are speeches like this one from Polonius, also containing the well-know words, “To thine own self be true.” His son is leaving for France and he decides to give him a bit of fatherly advice.

Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay'd for. There; my blessing with thee!
And these few precepts in thy memory
See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!

These words have little to do with the plot, but they contain nuggets of wisdom that can still be applied today. They also stir up discussion as to how true they are.

There is a depth to Hamlet that will allow it to continue to pass the test of time as one of the greatest plays ever. I will never think of it as that boring play I took in university again.