Shakspere and Montaigne An Endeavour to Explain the Tendency of 'Hamlet' from Allusions in Contemporary Works

Delving into the tangled web of early modern drama, this study asks what Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” really says about the philosophical battles of its day. The author tracks the play’s textual evolution, especially the differences between the first and second quartos, and follows clues hidden in contemporary works to map a larger controversy. By linking the tragedy to Michel Montaigne’s newly translated Essays, the analysis suggests that Shakespeare may have been using his protagonist to argue against emerging skeptical ideas. The reader is guided through a landscape of poets, patrons, and polemics, revealing how a single play can echo the heated debates that animated the London stage.

Central to the argument is the notorious dispute between Ben Jonson and Thomas Dekker, a public theatrical feud that resonated with audiences in the early 1600s. The book shows how references to that conflict appear in “Hamlet” and in other dramas, positioning Shakespeare as a more active participant than previously thought. Listeners will come away with a fresh perspective on the tragedy’s religious and political undertones, and an appreciation for the intricate ways literature and contemporary events intertwine.