Related Literary Works to Hamlet
Shakespeare's "Hamlet" shares significant thematic and narrative connections with various literary works throughout history. Let's explore some of the most notable relationships and influences.
Greek Tragedy: Oresteia
The most direct ancient parallel to "Hamlet" is Aeschylus's "Oresteia" trilogy, particularly in its theme of revenge and familial murder.
NoteLike Hamlet, Orestes must avenge his father Agamemnon's murder by his mother Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus.
Key parallels:
- Both protagonists are driven by filial duty
- Both stories involve maternal betrayal
- Both feature supernatural elements (Apollo's oracle vs. Ghost of King Hamlet)
Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd
This play, written around 1587, served as a direct influence on Shakespeare's "Hamlet."
ExampleThe Spanish Tragedy features:
- A ghost seeking revenge
- A play-within-a-play device
- A hero driven mad by grief
- Multiple deaths in the final scene
Ur-Hamlet
Though lost to history, the "Ur-Hamlet" was likely an earlier version of the Hamlet story that Shakespeare used as source material.
TipThe term "Ur-Hamlet" comes from German, where "Ur-" means "original" or "primitive."
Saxo Grammaticus's "Amleth"
This Danish legend, recorded in the 12th century, forms the historical basis for Shakespeare's play.
Key differences:
- Amleth successfully completes his revenge
- The protagonist feigns madness as a deliberate strategy
- No ghost appears to demand vengeance
