Books 2: Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Actually, this about book 7, but I haven't had the time to write up the others to my own content. Even this is a bit rough, and not fully thought out. Sorry!

The last time I actually read through some Shakespeare was back in high school. Over five years I think I must have looked at more than a dozen plays, between English (and English Literature for graduation), and drama studies. Of course, Hamlet featured strongly in my final year. Our teacher was an ex-university Literature professor whose passion was clear but communication was poor. Despite having a very literary, annotated version of arguably Shakespeare’s greatest work, if not his most well-known, at 16 I don’t think I really “got it”.
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So, after seeing it on my bookshelf out it came. At more than double the age at which I first read it I think I understand more of what Hamlet is going on about, and whole point Shakespeare is trying to make.

Firstly through a few thoughts:

• I didn’t realise that Hamlet contains so many quotations and “proverbs” we use today, even without knowing it. (It’s quite possible that they were common in Shakespeare’s day as well.)
• There is an enduring debate about Hamlet’s motivations and madness. Until this rereading I was quite content to believe in Hamlet’s madness as the source of Shakespeare to allow him to do anything he wanted. Now though, it’s not so clear cut. I don’t actually think that Hamlet goes mad at all during the play. He gets mad, most certainly, and he acts in rash ways that any of us could, under the pressures placed on him and he places on himself. However I don’t think he actually crosses the line into irrationality. He is very clever.
• The play is over very quickly. Sure, it’s long, but that’s not what I mean. There is a big, big build up to the climax – the sword fight – but it arrives almost out of nowhere, and as soon as it’s over, so is the play.

Whilst all of this is interesting, I want to look in depth at another aspect of the play – what it is that causes Hamlet so much grief in the first place. At the outset, a ghost appears claiming to be his father, the old king, who died not long before. His mother (Gertrude) has since remarried his uncle (Claudius), who just so happens to be the new king. Understandably, Hamlet is upset at this turn of events. The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his uncle, and that he must revenge his father’s death.

Ok, stop right there. What would you do? In Shakespeare’s day revenge was perfectly ok, a natural part of life and death. Would you revenge your father? Would you wimp out? It is, after all, killing the king, too.

Much has been made of Hamlet’s delay and considerations. He chooses to verify the ghost’s claim, and then act on it if necessary. In the meantime, he ponders the meaning of life and death – what does it mean to be alive? So many expectations and pressures have just been placed on him. Is life worth this much trouble? Eventually he feels caught by the situation, he wants to avenge his father’s murder, but he does not want to kill.

Hamlet’s response is to go through with it. He takes out his anger and suspicion on a head of state and friend of the family (Polonius), and eventually in the dual that gets him killed. However, I think there are better responses. At least, I think there is a Christian response that must be considered.

Jesus said, Give to Caesar what is his; Give to God what is His (Matt 22:17). Jesus was talking about money here. The implication being that we must pay our taxes, be good citizens, and uphold peace and order. Likewise, we need to honour God, love and serve Him, and do that all He expects of us. However, God is god of Caesar, too.

The same might apply to our morals and duties and the expectations of others that have sway over us. There needs to be a pecking order, so to speak, of the people to whom we give our time and energies. As with Jesus’ instruction, God is at the top of that. Underneath fall the government and those who are in positions of power over us, our employers, our family members and other people who speak into our lives.

Hamlet’s tragedy is that he lets his society, and particularly the ghost of his father for whom he longs dictate his path. He talks about it. He talks about the uselessness of all talk and no action (another major theme in the play). He eventually falls into action as it overcomes him, rather than seeking it out himself. Without a Godly perspective he looses sight of better options. The only ones he has lead to death, and guilt, and more pain.

Doesn't that still happen when we lose sight of God?

Questions, questions, questions!

Ok, so I stole this from my friend Heather's blog. But at least it's an entry that is not going to take the usual 10+ hours of writing, rewriting, thinking and reworking. I really should learn to be less precise!

1. How old where you when you had your first kiss?
   I honestly can't remember. I probably received my first kiss when I was a few minutes old. I probably gave my first kiss when I was few years old. My first romantic kiss would've been more like 16, I think.
   
   
2. What do you think is your best feature?
   My mind.
   
   
3. What is your favorite breed of dog?
   Jack Russell Terror. But they take a lot of work!
   
   
4. If you could attend only one Olympic event, which would it be?
   Hmmm... Probably swimming.
   
   
5. If you could invite any movie star to your home for dinner, who would it be?
   Probably Sidney Poitier
   
   
6. If you where a car what kind would you be?
   I'd love to have a MGB. It really is my dream car. However, I think I would probably be a station wagon of some kind. Practical & reliable. Everything the MG isn't!
   
   
7. What is your favorite number?
   16. Not surprisingly my birthday.
   
   
8. Which Disney character are you most like?
   I don't know enough about Disney movies to really comment. Perhaps Marlin, Nemo's dad.
   
   
9. If a movie was made about you, who would play you?
   Why would somebody make a movie about me?
   
   
10. Have you ever been out of the country and, if yes, where? (list all places)
    Lots of times. New Zealand. Indonesia. The Netherlands. Belgium. Germany. England. Scotland. Switzerland. Spain. France. Portugal. USA. Australia.
    
    
11. How many times have you flown in an airplane in the last twelve (12) months?
    Zero. Zip. None. Nada.
    
    
12. If you were in a car sinking in a lake, what would you do first?
    Take a deep breath.
    
    
13. If you where stuck at one age for the rest of your life, what age would you want it to be?
    About 30. Just enough wisdom to be out of my arrogant youth. Still enough energy to make a good fist of things.
    
    
14. What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?
    Hmm... interesting. Lots of things crop up as strange, but nothing really as the weirdest. Perhaps having our luggage gone through numerous times by customs, for no apparent reason, at various airports.
    
    
15. What is the "coolest”" (or most unique) thing you have ever done?
    Planning to live in Europe for two years. Staying for seven. Making the best friends I've ever had, deepening my relationship with God, and having a child all along the way.
    
    
16. What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
    Being in a car accident. The back end of a tow truck scraped along the drivers side (*me*) of our car, bending the chassis, and breaking both axles. Glass in your underwear is not a pleasant experience.
    
    
17. Have you ever gone skinny-dipping?
    Yes. Its not as fun as its cracked up to be.
    
    
18. What is your favorite restaurant to eat at?
    As we don't really have the funds to go out at the moment, I don't really have one. Perhaps eating a really good meal at home. With good friends, lovely food and wine, and great conversation.
    
    
19. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?
    Coffee. Virtually anything with caffiene.
    
    
20. What is your biggest pet peeve?
    Bad driving. Particularly people that pull up next to you when you're trying to cross a dual carriage way. Its just plain rude, not to mention dangerous.
    
    
21. What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?
    African cuisine. Small piles of indescribable delicacies, all on a kind of thin bread / pancake base. You'd tear off a bit of the pancake, scoop up some topping and eat. A wonderfully social way of eating.
    
    
22. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what song would you want it to be?
    Only one? That would be torture. So many to chose from. Probably one of the following: Brahms, Cello Sonata in E; Steely Dan, Peg; Paul Simon, Kodachrome; or anything from Sting, Oscar Peterson or Paul Kelly.
    
    
23. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
    xan
    
    
24. What is the best book you have ever read?
    The Bridge of Birds, by Barry Hughart.
    
    
25. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
    Their height.
    
    
26. What is the one thing you want to do before you die?
    Record an album. Mostly bass solos and my own songs.
    
    
27. What is the most outrageous thing you would love to do?
    Record and play with any number of very talened musicians, and go on tour.
    
    
28. What is your favorite board game?
    The Settlers of Catan.
    
    
29. If you could have any job, what would it be?
    Running a church arts ministry. I used to limit this to just the music side, but I realise that my interests are so much more. Especially in terms of integrating the different arts.
    
    
30. What, in your opinion, is the worst way to die?
    Alone.
    
    
31. If a genie granted you three wishes, what would you wish for?
    1. Never to have too much, nor too little. (Proverbs 30:8-9)
    2. To always be assured of a friendship I can rely on. (Joshua 1:5)
    3. To continue to learn and improve myself.
    Hang on, aren't these God's promises? ;-)
    
    
32. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
    Back to Europe. And live there. For good.
    
    
33. What is one thing you could not go more than a week without?
    Coffee!!
    
    
34. In the last three years, what is one thing you would have done differently?
    Not sold our apartment in The Netherlands.
    Stayed in The Netherlands.
    Got a job I wanted, rather than one I needed.
    
    
35. What is, in your opinion, your most appealing quality?
    My mind - although that is fairly arrogant!
    

If you'd like me to interview you, and ask you a few questions, add a non-anonymous comment to this post and I'll send some questions over!

Zoe Alina

Ok, so here's the little thing that's been keeping me from blogging the last month. Zoe was born 9 June, at 9.38pm. All is well. Praise God for a wonderful little girl!


Zoe Alina


Pappa, Xander and Zoe


Three day old feet