domingo, 25 de noviembre de 2018

The Heroic Legend of Hamlet ¡Ya a la venta!





Introduction for parents and teachers

Both today, with the world at the edge of a cliff, and when the story of prince Hamlet first saw the light at the hand of William Shakespeare four hundred years ago, the promises to man, the lies that feed false hope, are on human lips. So, now as in then, the uncomfortable presence of the non-conformist and indomitable Danish prince becomes essential; especially when we talk about a literary menu of a youth who barely understands the tides of the world they sail.

This adaptation is a risky choice. Mainly because the immortal English drama wasn´t written for the teenage public. What interest could the young reader have in the complex plots that are woven around the death of a king at the hands of his brother? How can we justify the validity of Hamlet in educational terms? The answers will come to us after observing the society we live in. Let the world we will leave for the young to inherit talk.
So the new marriage of widow Gertrude, mother of prince Hamlet, the abuse and corruption of the powerful –personified in the traitorous brother– and the internal debate into which our main character is pushed –divided between tolerating evil or fighting it– is nutrient-filled material for a teenage community that must become aware of the ruins they walk in.
The familiarity with these conflicts is where we can find the educational motivation; because the story solidly shows, through Hamlet´s exemplary commitment to his conscience, what is the attitude of someone who appreciates truth and justice. Because this is what the story is about, the appreciation of nobility, truth and justice, the substantial ingredients that make up people with integrity who don´t tolerate submission to a power that is deceitful, that runs over and abuses without any mercy.
To all this we must add an extremely important detail that usually goes unnoticed: the death of the noble king is caused by introducing poison into his ear. It is the perfect allegory to express the risks of listening –and believing– what is not true, what is harmful; that which is said to subdue the listener´s determining will, in order to paralyze his/her critical spirit until his/her conscience is dead.
In short, the tragedy of the British bard, is still highly recommended for different reasons for young people and adults, after four hundred years.

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