No Fear Shakespeare: Disseminating Hamlet Through Adaptation

Abstract

This thesis discusses the value in using adaptations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet to have more readers experience and understand of the work. Two adaptions are discussed: John Crowther’s side-by-side translation of Hamlet from 2003, and Neil Babra’s graphic novel Hamlet from 2008. Chapter One compares Crowther’s version to four academic editions of Hamlet, who serve as a guide for the “original” text. The chapter examines the use of peritexts and annotations in all five works, and analyzes which strategies Crowther has used in his translations. Chapter Two revolves around the graphic novel, and analyzes how the use of a visual medium has adapted the work to fit Babra’s intended audience of young adults. The visual medium also allows Babra’s graphic novel to use language that is closer to the four academic versions than Crowther’s translation was. The chapter also includes a visual and textual analysis based on scenes illustrated by Babra. The thesis concludes that both adaptations have implemented strategies that have made them suitable for their audience, and that these adaptations could therefore help readers experience Hamlet without losing the complexity of the original work.