"Hamlet"

Brings together three traditional essays on "Hamlet" and sets them alongside nine pieces of modern criticism that reflect the way in which contemporary discussion of Shakespeare is influenced by the ideas of structuralism, feminism, deconstruction Marxism and new historicism.

What are the differences between traditional readings of Hamlet and those produced by modern criticism? What sort of questions does structuralist or feminist criticism raise? What issues are foregrounded by contemporary critics and how do these challenge our understanding of the play? This new collection on Hamlet brings together three traditional essays on the play and sets them alongside nine pieces of modern criticism that reflect the way in which contemporary discussion of Shakespeare is now heavily indebted to the ideas of structuralism, feminism, deconstruction, Marxism and new historicism. Complete with Introduction and a guide to Further Reading, the volume offers students a clear account of how the exciting developments in modern literary criticism and theory have influenced the current debate about Hamlet.

Introduction - Essays by: Nigel Alexander - Catherine Belsey - Stephen Booth - James Calderwood - Peter Davison - Philip Edwards - Marilyn French - John Hunt - David Leverenz - Elaine Showalter - Rebecca Smith - Leonard Tennenhouse