Inspired by Said’s methodology of contrapuntal reading, this paper examines Edward Said’s reference to Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1604) in his memoir, Out of Place (1999) to shed light on his experiences of exile and displacement. We contend that Hamlet gives voice to Said’s incestuous desire and his inability, like that of Hamlet, to live up to the standards required of him by his dominating father who, like Hamlet’s father, is a ghostly figure that dominates Said’s life even after his death. We argue that while Said points out that Shakespeare is an extension of imperial authority, his readings of Hamlet with his mother destabilizes the colonizing force of Shakespeare and displaces Western hegemony over performance and interpretations.

Title

Critical Survey - Berghahn Journals

Publisher

An-Najah National University

Publisher Country

Palestine

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

33

Year

2021

Pages

13