Hamlet and The Seagull: The Theatre for the Future Público
Laurila, Haley Jo (2010)
Published
Abstract
Abstract
Hamlet and The Seagull: The Theatre for the
Future
By Haley Jo Laurila
This thesis examines the role of Shakespeare's play Hamlet
in Anton Chekhov's play The Seagull. Hamlet has
played a pivotal role in Russian culture as a vessel for posing
many of the most pertinent social, political, and intellectual
questions, proving Jan Kott's assertion that Hamlet remains
a relevant play to this day because of its propensity for absorbing
all of the issues of the time of its performance. Echoing his
protagonist in The Seagull in wanting artistic innovation,
Chekhov was a harsh critic of traditional theatre and recognized in
Hamlet the potential for revitalizing the stagnant Russian
stage. While scholars acknowledge the relationship between
Hamlet and The Seagull, they stop short of fully
illuminating the importance of this relationship, not only for
Chekhov's new drama, but also for the development of modern
theatre. The plays' similarities extend to the protagonists, their
relationship dynamics, and most importantly, the open contemplative
space so important in both plays. Chekhov also reversed many
aspects of Hamlet for The Seagull, and consequently,
expanded the space for interpretation in his play. Chekhov's new
dramatic technique maintains the multiplicity of interpretation so
key to his artistic vision: disjointed action, a lack of
explication of the characters' motivations or pasts; the
characters' miscommunication; absence of climactic moments and a
final resolution at. Chekhov's major innovation, foreshadowed in
Hamlet, is the unfilled spaces built into the dramatic
structure, action, and dialogue of the play, all of which prevents
the play from being finalized. The unfilled spaces imbue both
Hamlet and The Seagull with their artistic vitality.
The Seagull's innovation points toward the emergence of the
Theatre of the Absurd, but Chekhov's play, developed under the
influence of Hamlet, anticipates even further developments
in modern theatre.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Failures and Successes of The Seagull's
First Performances 1
Chapter 1 - Juxtaposing the Plays' Protagonists: Revealing the
Significance of the Hamlet- Seagull Relationship
14
Chapter 2 - The Rewriting of Hamlet and Constructions of
Meaning: Reversals of Art and Gender 32
Chapter 3 - The Widening Resonance and Potential for Interpretation
in the Hamlet- Seagull Relationship 48
Chapter 4 - The Potential for the Theatre of the Future and the
Emergence of the Theatre of the Absurd 65
Concluding Remarks 86
Works Cited 90
About this Honors Thesis
School | |
---|---|
Department | |
Degree | |
Submission | |
Language |
|
Research Field | |
Palavra-chave | |
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor | |
Committee Members |
Primary PDF
Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
---|---|---|---|
|
Hamlet and The Seagull: The Theatre for the Future () | 2018-08-28 14:01:58 -0400 |
|
Supplemental Files
Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
---|