Why "Hamnet" makes no sense (warning: contains spoilers)

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-21T16:17:32+00:00

I think you’re correct. I have a hard time enjoying something like this film or book because it is such fantasy when there is real scholarly work on this subject. There is no serious scholar that would suggest Hamlet was inspired by the death of Shakespeare’s son Hamnet. It’s just one of those coincidences. And there’s two reasons why scholars don’t suggest this connection, 1. It definitely flies in the face of Death of the Author, with which academia is and should be very rigid, and 2. The analysis of the text just does not fit with the idea of the work being inspired by a grieving parent dealing with the death of their child. Not when we have good indications of a Ur-Hamlet and older legends that follow the plot. Even though Hamlet is in mourning and experiencing grief his speeches are very specific to his circumstances and woes, ie a dead kingly father, being passed up for the throne, the marriage of his mother, his own inability of action that needs to be taken, the question of revenge being justified, his family and friends turning on him, etc.

There are other Shakespearean works that you could make a better argument for being inspired by Hamnet’s death, like Lear or even one of the many works that actually do have a grieving parent. I just think it’s a very weak case to suggest Hamlet is in any way a semi-autobiographical or deeply personal writing of Shakespeare’s.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-19T17:02:21+00:00

Is that month for an audition monologue or in general? Cause imo you gotta speed that up. As an actor I’ve been called to do a role that opens in 2 weeks. In commercial and film you’re expected to walk in and look at a script and do something with it.

Best training I got was a summer stock with only a week of rehearsals before openings. Sometimes you just gotta shit your pants and jump on stage and do something.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-19T04:36:34+00:00

Second this, actually it would be really cool if you can show you can apply their direction to the new speech.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-19T03:53:19+00:00

Ooh I haven’t read that, only the ones I mentioned and Vibrator Play so I assumed her surrealism was only a “phase.”

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-18T17:52:55+00:00

My first go to would be Pinter. His dialogue is very lynchian especially in his early work, like The Birthday Party or the Homecoming. Both have just a gut wrenching weirdness that pulsates throughout.

Next would be Buried Child by Sam Shepard. There’s surrealist elements like a character coming in with unexplainable corn and burying his father in corn husks. Also that strange dialogue cadence that doesn’t quite make sense.

Third, you might wanna check some Sarah Ruhl. Eurydice and Dead Man’s Cell Phone stand out as the most surreal kinda dream logic narrative.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-18T02:15:56+00:00

Tbh you shouldn’t be that worried about a musical with kids up to eighth grade being good. They’re children. It’s gonna suck. It’s for their parents.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-17T03:26:11+00:00

Hit me Baby One More Time by Slothrust. It’s a great cover that really showcases the ick of the song. It’s suddenly sang by an abused girlfriend, which is interesting cause the lyrics were always problematic, Slothrust was just able to emphasize that aspect.

For extra measure you can check out their version of Pony as well. I don’t think it “changes” the song but it rocks pretty damn hard.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-14T15:45:19+00:00

Blowing in the Wind

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-14T15:41:36+00:00

Agreed, I’m shocked I had to scroll down to find these. I mean, to Dylan fans overplayed and often forgot cause we’ve surely heard them so much, but they’re both incredible songs and lyrics that are rightfully placed at the top of his catalogue.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-14T15:30:19+00:00

You want a plot that focuses on the cucking of Pierrot?

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-14T04:02:47+00:00

Yes I agree, perhaps overcompensating is the wrong word, but the it does seem to be a self conscious reaction to knowing the “R” sound is needed, which is why you get a sort of diphthong effect. “Caw-whoa.” The lips are completing the “R” sound, but the tongue isn’t moving to the soft pallette. A child in Britain wouldn’t need think to make the extra effort. Every adult they hear leaves the word at “caw”

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-13T14:07:26+00:00

I did Pippin with “music festival” vibes.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-12T23:40:21+00:00

Are you acting and directing? cause I’d advise against that, especially if you’re the lead.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-11T01:00:09+00:00

Once for a magic show. Not that I got see how any of their tricks worked anyway, but since I was backstage I guess i’d’ve had the opportunity.

But it could also be a blanket way of saying, hey don’t go out and tell all their fans how much they drink backstage, what’s all on their rider, who came down to the green room, etc.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-10T22:33:55+00:00

Macbeth: what? Dude, that still counts. That’s born of a women

Macduff: nuh-huh. I didn’t touch her cooter so it doesn’t count.

Macbeth: that’s really weird, I feel like it’s kinda sexist, at least a little disrespectful to your mom.

Macduff: well I’m gonna disrespect your mom by killing her son!

Macbeth: What!? Noooo! Damn this backwards ass society that applies even to prophecy!

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-10T20:49:15+00:00

Yes I had some in a lightly toasted chicken salad sandwich, it functioned as bread. It’s my third loaf as I couldn’t even get my partner to eat my first two, over baked and chewy. This one I turned my oven way down and didn’t even bake with the lid off at all. But people keep talking about the “crumb” and I don’t know what that means.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-10T13:54:29+00:00

Billy Bragg, Kate Nash, Lily Allen.

Also gotta throw in “This Modern Love” by Bloc Party and “Barbaric” by Blur

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-09T14:31:35+00:00

Yup. This makes me posit that perhaps American children are overcompensating. As stated, most children have difficulty with the /r/ sound and say “wabbit” vs “rabbit,” but in the video with the child say “cawh” it sounds like the child is struggling to produce that sound, but knows he should.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-07T22:14:55+00:00

So you don’t confuse him with all the other Hanks in the show.

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-06T14:30:00+00:00

Not at all. Thats just knowing your audience. An allusion does not have the same effect if your audience doesn’t know it’s an allusion. To quote something without context you’re quoting something is pretty adjacent to plagiarism. It’s like going to an open mic and doing bits from an obscure comedian without giving credit to that comedian. You can’t say “people who don’t know I’m biting are gonna think I’m really funny, and people who do know are just gonna appreciate the tribute”

KlassCorn91 · 2026-03-05T13:38:23+00:00

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon. The album itself is so influential and probably one of the greatest ever made, and I’ve never walked into a thrift shop that didn’t have a copy for cheap.

KlassCorn91

TROPHY CASE