Did Shakespeare Get His Ideas for Hamlet from Another Source?

The question of whether William Shakespeare borrowed ideas for his famous play Hamlet from another source has long intrigued scholars and audiences alike. Hamlet is a complex and nuanced work, yet some believe that its origins may lie in an earlier play that was lost to time.

Shakespeare's Immediate Source: Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy

According to a myriad of scholarly sources, Hamlet's immediate inspiration appears to be a lost play by Thomas Kyd. This earlier work, also set around the figure of Hamlet, a Danish prince who must seek revenge for his father, became popular in the late 1580s and early 1590s. Thomas Kyd is best known for his influential play The Spanish Tragedy, which tells the story of Humber, Lord of Bologna, killing his stepfather, the King of Spain, and takes a similar avenging path.

During the time when Kyd's play was in performance, no printed texts exist, leaving us with the information that it was seen mainly on stage and may not have been available in the written form. Testimonies from the period indicate a strong presence of a ghost seeking vengeance in the piece, which aligns with the central theme of Hamlet. Scholars often point to The Spanish Tragedy as a likely source for some of the plot elements in Shakespeare's work, particularly the ghost and the revenge motif.

Shakespeare’s Educational Background

Shakespeare's educational background is often discussed in relation to his plays. Despite popular belief that Shakespeare had a limited education, recent research has revealed that he likely had an excellent education, laying a strong foundation for his later work. According to historical records, Shakespeare may have attended the King's New School, where he received a solid education in Latin and classical studies. This background would have equipped him with a broad knowledge base and the skills to draw on both contemporary and historical sources.

Shakespeare’s Wider Sources for His Plays

What were the sources of Shakespeare's plays? The Bard often drew from a variety of written and oral sources. Contemporary histories like Holinshed's Chronicles provided a framework for many of his plays, while classical works such as those by Ovid and Plautus, and earlier Renaissance literary works like Chaucer and Boccaccio, were also influential. In addition, he borrowed ideas from his contemporaries and relied heavily on the Bible as a source of themes and characters.

While the plots of Shakespeare's plays were rarely original, he was adept at blending these different sources with his own unique voice. His extensive use of multiple sources and his ability to merge them into cohesive and compelling narratives are testaments to his skill as a writer. Scholars agree that Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles were one of his most frequent sources, but they also point to the influence of the works of Thomas Kyd and others.

A Partial End to the Debate

While scholarly debate rages on about the extent to which Shakespeare drew upon external sources, the most important point to remember is that despite these influences, Shakespeare's final product was his own. He took the stories, themes, and ideas from numerous sources and wove them together with his own vision, creating a work of literature that is unique and timeless.

Conclusion

The question of Shakespeare's sources for Hamlet remains a point of contention, but the evidence suggests thatsources like Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy likely played a role. However, Shakespeare's genius lay in his ability to transform and adapt these works, ensuring that the end result was a piece of literature that resonated with audiences across centuries. His method was to take influences, refine them, and bring them to life in ways that made them his own.