William Shakespeare's
literary conception is a turning to individuals and a turning from
hierarchies. He turns from the hierarchical literatures of early
nation-states
with their obeisance and tyranny, life and death
issues.
He
turns to
a new landscape of divers
interpersonal
relationships with traits ranging from love and hate, to cunning and naivety and
in the process flattens the hierarchical literatures with a quill pen.
The nation-states which do exist are no longer masses of armies or
behemoth enterprises cloaked from an individual's meditation.
Institutions are recognized as being built with and by and for people.
The virtues and corruptions of people extend to their institutions. As
such, metaphors, too, can extend to institutions. I
don't think it's a coincidence that Prince Hamlet is so-named. A
hamlet, even during Shakespeares era, is a community as well.
The writing may represent a search for morals in a
world which is, increasingly, separated from theistic morality.
Admittedly, religion has had it's abominations, abominations which
motivated corrections. The modern path of these corrections has been
for groups to look within themselves for answers, rather than looking to
crowned heads of state or the divine.
Shakespeare represents, for me, not the beginning of literature but,
for better or worse,
the beginning of modern literature.
Here are some quotes from Hamlet.1
But, look, the morn in russet mantle clad . . .
- The speaker is Horatio, Act 1, scene 1
A sunrise.
For they are actions that a man might play:
- The speaker is Hamlet, Act 1, scene 2
Deceitful actions. Fakes, lies.
Give me the man That is not passion's slave . . .
- The speaker is Hamlet, Act 3, scene 2
Fairly obvious meaning.
O'er whom his very madness, like some ore Amoung a mineral of metals base, Shows itself pure; . . . - The speaker is the Queen, Act 4, scene 1
Hamlet has obligated himself to revenge the murder of his father, the
King. He considers it a virtuous, noble revenge. The Queen, as well as
others, label Hamlet's anguish as madness, but the Queen also
realizes Hamlet, himself, sees his revengeful designs not as 'madness'
but, rather
as being a
noble or 'pure' intent.
1Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Edmund Kerchever Chambers
Editor, D. C. Heath and Co. Publishers, 1895, - ebook download from books.google.com.