Summary of The Masks of Hamlet

The Masks of Hamlet, by original scholar and editor S. Schoenbaum, provides a fascinating window into the play, drawing heavily upon historical records to evaluate the play’s genesis, development, and influence. Schoenbaum’s text offers an accessible and entertaining review of scholarship on the play, as well as original interpretations of various characters and symbols. After examining the play’s composition, the book delves into Hamlet’s historical context and analyzes the development of the play, from its origins in medieval drama to its adoption by playwrights, actors, directors, and film makers spanning centuries. It especially highlights the impact of the Romantic movement, which shaped the play’s interpretation, and explores the contrast between a modern and historical view of the play’s themes of revenge, honor, and madness. Finally, The Masks of Hamlet offers a meditation on the play’s immortal power, as each generation interprets Hamlet in its own way, reaffirming the timeless relevance of Shakespeare’s tragedy.