For over four hundred years The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark has exceptionally captivated the interest of the world.

Since its conception on the global stage this play has been the subject of interpretation and analysis by a multitude of prominent thinkers. Some of the most notable elucidation of this play were made by Hugo, Nietzsche, Freud, Elliot, Vygotsky, Turgenev, Lewis, Asimov, Ecco and Joyce, just to name a few. Although their methods and approaches have widely differed, the only consistent conclusion is that Hamlet is “a mystery,” “a riddle,” “a puzzle,”  “an enigma”.

Several years ago I noticed some general similarities in the use of metaphor between Shakespeare's Hamlet and Plato's Phaedo. Upon further comparison I realized that the relationship between these two texts was uncanny.

A close inspection revealed a remarkably intricate (and thereby intended) line-to-line relationship between the two texts, which has gone unnoticed by the vast tradition of examination.

I propose that the dialogue of Phaedo is the intended “key” to unlocking the mystery of Hamlet. 

Here is the compiled evidence which proves that a line-to-line juxtaposition of the two texts results in the solution to The Hamlet Enigma, provides a unique insight into Shakespeare’s philosophic method and reveals his particular motive as a defense for tragic poetry in response to Plato's famous challenge.

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

The Hamlet Enigma: Introduction

Part One: “Who’s there?”

Part Two: “Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.”

Part Three: “Long live the king”

Part Four: “You come most carefully upon your hour”

Part Five: “’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.”

Загадка Гамлета (in Russian translation)