From saga to tragedy: exploring the original sources of Hamlet and Macbeth

Abstract

Almost all of Shakespeare’s plays are based on prior sources, some contemporary to him and some not. By looking at the prior sources for two of Shakespeare’s famous tragedies, Hamlet and Macbeth, we can better appreciate and understand Shakespeare’s work. This paper begins with a discussion of whether Shakespeare exists as an adaptor, a plagiarist, or an appropriator. Next, I explore how Shakespeare’s changes to the endings, protagonists, and female characters change the original texts from historic sagas to theatrical tragedies. Keywords: English, History, Shakespeare, Hamlet, Macbeth, Raphael Holinshed, Saxo Grammaticus, The Danish History, Amleth, The Hystorie of Hamblet, Hamblet