Hamlet: a novel

John Marsden (author)

Text Publishing, Australia, 2008: 228pp

ISBN: 9781921351471

Genres: drama, literature

Issues: corruption, friendship, identity, leadership, relationships, teenage sexuality

John Marsden attempts to create a teenage perspective on one of Shakespeare's greatest works.

Unlikely as it was always going to be that any author could create a novelization of Shakespeare's Hamlet that in any way came close to capturing the depth and complexity of the conflicted, indecisive and soul-searching character portrayed by such greats as Derek Jacobi, Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh, the reality of Marsden's work is disappointing.

Perhaps the target audience, students who've been struggling to comprehend the play's basic plot and characters will find the novel helpful. Certainly Marsden has created a somewhat extended ‘Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare' version of the plot of Hamlet (the play).

The novel introduces most major and minor characters and makes clear their roles and more obvious relationships. Marsden, using his long experience with and understanding of teenage boys, gives a rarely-considered perspective on the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of Hamlet, Horatio and Laertes. It's a modern perspective on teenage boys, however, without allowing for their upbringing, the period in which the play was originally set, or their political roles within the court of Denmark.

There is very little of that insight into character motivation and plot subtext that should be the purpose of any interpretation of Shakespeare's works, whether by actors on a stage or writers of essays - or novels. This is a simplistic interpretation spiced up with hints of illicit teenage sexuality (Ophelia masturbates) and sociopathic tendencies attributed to Hamlet (he kills small animals in night rituals in the kitchen garden).

A great play that explores universal themes is reduced to a somewhat superficial narrative. The language was always going to be problematic and Marsden seems to have been unable to choose between modern ‘teen speak' and adaptations of Shakespeare's glorious cadences. Consequently the novel's construction reads rather like its portrayal of Hamlet himself - weak, indecisive, uncertain, self-doubting and neither one thing nor another. Gertrude and Ophelia, instead of being strong women, powerful and influential within the limits of their lines and roles, are cast as weak pawns dominated by sexual desire.

Not original enough to be a strong novel - a great shame, as the opening chapters certainly had a suggestion of innovation - Marsden's Hamlet may have some value as a plot crib but will never lead the reader into the subtle exploration of politics, power and corruption that is the essence of the Bard's work.

Lisa Fiedler's Dating Hamlet, while not as accurate to plot, is a much more insightful reference to the play.