Hamlet Quote by Peter Mendelsund
““When we see plays performed on the stage, we work with a different set of standards. Hamlet is ours to picture as we'd like, as he might be played by a different actor in every new production produced. We do not refer to Hamlet as a character as much as a ROLE. He is clearly meant to be inhabited: played. And Denmark is a SET. It can be anywhere the director and stage designer imagine it to be. (Perhaps these terms --ROLE and SET-- should be used when describing novels?)””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Book Design, Peter Mendelsund, 2015
The quote argues that theatrical and literary works should be viewed as roles and sets, allowing flexible interpretation beyond fixed characters or locations.
In simple terms: Stories are roles and settings, not fixed characters or places.
Key Takeaway
Embrace flexible interpretation of narratives.
Themes
interpretation
creativity
theatre
literature
design
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- directing a play
- writing a novel
- stage design
- film adaptation
Key Concepts
role theory
set theory
dramatic flexibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does flexibility enhance storytelling?
- When might fixed character definitions be important?
A Different Perspective
Interpretation can become too subjective, losing original intent.
