Hamlet

Abstract

This paper analyses the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare with special and investigates the problems regarding translation. Hamlet reflects The Elizabethan World Picture and is about Hamlet, a young student who comes home for his father’s funeral and his mother’s remarriage. This marriage causes Hamlet to develop a misogynistic attitude because of an unresolved Oedipal conflict which ruins his relationship with Ophelia, though he still loves her. Throughout the play Hamlet develops from being an individual “thinker” to being an “actor” who can avenge his father’s murder. While developing he must pretend to be mad to protect himself but he also becomes mad in reality because of all the corruption in the Danish Court. Because of this he also becomes corrupt himself who can kill people with no remorse. Another theme in addition to “Seeming and Being” and corruption is the division Hamlet feels. He must sacrifice some of himself for the duty he has to his family. These themes are relevant even today and makes sure the play is analyzed, interpreted and translated anew even today. There are many problems when translating and it is regarded as almost impossible. Therefore there are different things a translator must take into consideration especially when translating Shakespeare who uses many linguistic devices. This is seen in Lembcke and Sarvig’s translations of Hamlet where choices must be made when it comes to Hamlet’s ambiguous lines. Here the translators interpret and translate differently as Lembcke takes a more direct approach, translating almost word for word and giving a formal equivalence, whereas Sarvig bases his translation more on his interpretation of the text trying to restore some of the original impression of the lines – in contrast to these is Jensen’s translation of “the nunnery scene” where a more dynamic equivalence is achieved. [Læs mere…]