“For Murder, though have no Tongue, will Speak”, Hamlet Speaks for the Contemporary Problems around the Word

Abstract

People from different countries reshape and revise Hamlet to suit their situations and alter their personalities accordingly. Hamlet highlights issues in political, moral, social and cultural spheres of a country. Shakespeare’s Hamlet attracts the minds of readers to the extent that they establish a link with their unconscious minds; thus resulting in an empathetic connection between readers, characters and the adapters. This paper offers an analysis of the different adaptations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in some countries. It delineates the link between Hamlet and its adaptations, particularly Haider –an Indian adaptation. This paper compares Hamlet and Haider and draws parallels between the two in order to highlight and address contemporary problems especially that of conflict between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. This paper talks about Haider that successfully created the desired impact which should be the purpose of an adapted play. Essentially qualitative in nature, this paper uses the lens of Linda Hutcheon –Theory of Adaptation- to conduct textual analysis.