A Graphic Hamlet

For the second time, a Christmas present from my brother has become the subject of a post.  The first instance was the book, Stay, Illusion (see 2/2/14 post).  This time it's the No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novel of Hamlet, published by Spark Notes.  I'll admit that I had walked by the work many times, picked it up a few times, but never purchased it.  Leave it to him to get me an Hamlet item I didn't own, without even a suggestion.  (Thanks, Nick!)

The idea of buying anything Spark Notes might be seen as heretical to some.  Why would one not just buy the real play?  As a high school teacher, I watch on a daily basis students reading condensed versions of books rather than the actual books themselves.  (I can't blame them entirely.  I never had much use for The Scarlet Letter, either.)  In fact, before I sat down to type this I had to endure an argument over the first name of Fortinbras' uncle as students studied (if one could call it that) for a test.  So what would this self-avowed Hamlet nut think about a notes version of the play?

It actually is a well-done treatment.  The language is updated into contemporary English to make it more sensible to a modern reader.  The advantage is being able to understand the plot without having to resort to an interpreter.  If the purpose of the work is for the reader to understand the plot of Hamlet, it succeeds.  The story is condensed in parts, but the bulk of the plot is here.  Considering that the audience is likely the student encountering the play for the first time (and being tested on it), then I certainly can see a value in making the play accessible.

The graphic aspect of the book also helps considerably.  A difficulty in reading a play is that it is not designed to be read.  It is designed to be performed or to be watched.  Turning Hamlet into a graphic novel allows it to be both read and seen.  This helps the reader to follow the action, from a literal perspective and a visual perspective.  Granted, the artistic presentation is not exactly gallery-quality, but the art fits the word and the word fits the art.

The downside to this interpretation of Hamlet is that Shakespeare's poetry and meter are altered if not removed.  Much of the beauty of the play is the written/spoken word.  Here, soliloquies and dialogue are changed into versions that do not flow as lyrically the original.  One would hope that the reader, engaged by the story, would seek out a copy of Shakespeare's original to read or find a live version to watch.

The graphic novel of Hamlet turned out to be a very enjoyable (and quick) read.  I noted that the publisher has a similar version of Macbeth.  I plan to pick that one up in advance of the Stratford production this summer.  It couldn't hurt to brush up a bit!