SEARCH ARTICLE

20 Pages : 309-319

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-IV).20      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-IV).20      Published : Dec 2018

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

    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.

    Hamlet, adaptations, appropriations, Revenge Issues, Globalization, Universal Uniformity and Contemporary Problems.
    (1) Muhammad Muazzam Sharif
    Lecturer, Department of English, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Zubair Shafiq
    Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Umtul Ayesha
    Lecturer, City District Government Degree College for Women, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.

30 Pages : 331-344

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).30      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).30      Published : Jun 2023

Beyond the Stage: Exploring the Transmedial Adaptation of "to be or not to be" in Hamlet on Rooftop

    Comics blend linguistic resources and semiotic signs to represent different ideas. The rise of online platforms and the ease of digital distribution has made the production and consumption of comics a common phenomenon. In storytelling, their significance is acknowledged as an effective source of visual representation of sequential art. The present study underpins different techniques and strategies employed by Eisner for blending art and literary discourse to create an adapted comic version of "Hamlet"—named "Hamlet on a Rooftop". This comic is set in urban settings, in which Eisner highlights the themes of revenge, inner conflicts, family politics, etc. Focusing on the comical adaptation of Hamlet's famous soliloquy "to be, or not to be", the current study delineates how Eisner has used visual icons, facial expressions, colours, lettering, etc., to tell a visual narrative. The study also explores how the use of sequential visual style in "Hamlet on a Rooftop" gives the narrative flow to this comic. The study's findings enlist different techniques that work as a tool kit for comic writers to represent different ideas in an exciting fashion with the help of multimodal semiotic signs.

    Comics, Hamlet on Rooftop, Transmedial Adaptation, Semiotic Signs
    (1) Moazzam Ali Malik
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Irfan
    MPhil Scholar, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Muhammad Umair Ayub
    MPhil Scholar, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.

18 Pages : 210-222

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-I).18      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-I).18      Published : Mar 2024

Propp's Narrative Functions: Deciphering Hamlet's Character Transformation

    Narrative analysis serves as a potent tool to unravel the subtleties of character progression and thematic resonance within storytelling. This study investigates the character transformation of Hamlet, the iconic protagonist of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," employing Vladimir Propp's Morphology of the Folktale as an analytical framework. Through the lens of Proppian functions, the study explores Hamlet's journey from grief-stricken prince to tormented tragic hero, shedding light on the interplay between structural narrative components and emotional development. The research employs Propp's functions ranging from Absentation and Interdiction to Violation and Struggle to dissect pivotal moments in the play. These functions elucidate Hamlet's responses to absence, his internal conflicts, and his quest for justice. By mapping Hamlet's trajectory onto Propp's archetypal functions, this study unveils the intricate relationship between narrative structure and character metamorphosis. The analysis not only deepens our understanding of "Hamlet" as a timeless masterpiece but also exemplifies the synergy between traditional character analysis and structural narrative theory.

    Narrative Structure Analysis, Propp's Narrative Functions, Hamlet
    (1) Nighat Shakur
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (2) Syeda Aqsa Batool
    MS Scholar, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.