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hy is Hamlet criticized as an "artistic failure"? T.S. Eliot’s fierce polemics
Since its premiere in the early 17th century, William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" has been considered one of his most famous, most imitated and most analyzed plays. Although the characters in the play have profoundly influenced many literary and psychological studies, the work is considered an "artistic failure" in the eyes of some critics. In particular, T.S. Eliot's comments aroused strong reactions and debates from some scholars and literature lovers.
Historical background
Hamlet received great attention during the Renaissance, especially for the way it depicted madness. The play's popularity at the time is attested to by the multiple editions published during Shakespeare's lifetime. During this period, while the madness of the characters was taken seriously, few questioned its artistic integrity. It was not until the Restoration that criticism began to focus on issues of Shakespeare's language and tragic devices. Critic John Evelyn once criticized "Hamlet" in his diary for destroying the unity of time and space.
Eliot’s criticism
T.S. Eliot, in his famous essay "Hamlet and His Problems," argued that the play fails to successfully convey emotion, arguing that Hamlet's disgust for his mother lacks the necessary "objective relevance" in the play . This makes Hamlet's emotions appear too exaggerated and unconvincing in the plot.
Eliot believes that the success of "Hamlet" lies in its mystery, but excessive mystery makes it confusing and leads to artistic failure.
Artistic integrity and theme discussion
Psychological analysis of the characters in Hamlet is extremely controversial, with the plot and themes of the play often being treated as secondary. Eliot's argument raises questions about whether this character-centered narrative is really appropriate, or whether a return to a more traditional emphasis on plot should be made. Critics believe that as the plot develops, the actions and feelings of the characters require deeper explanation and understanding, and Eliot's view seems to ignore the importance of these aspects.
"The flaws of art often come from the incongruity in creation, which is especially obvious in Hamlet."
Impact on current criticism
Since Eliot, many scholars have begun to re-examine Hamlet, especially analyzing its influence from the perspectives of gender and politics. The current New Historicism theory attempts to eliminate the Romantic packaging of the play and consider its significance in the social context of the Elizabethan era. Scholar Margarita de Grazia pointed out that many contemporary analyzes of the play have not yet touched on its deep political implications, which has inspired new directions of thinking in literary studies of the play.
Questions and Thoughts
Although "Hamlet" plays an important role in forming the dramatic context of the Renaissance, in the face of doubts from Eliot and other critics, is it really perfect enough to deserve continued admiration?
