In the opening title card of Chloé Zhao’s latest film, it is revealed that during Shakespeare’s era, the names Hamnet and Hamlet were essentially interchangeable. Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, met a tragic end at the young age of 11, approximately four years before the creation of “Hamlet.” Many literary scholars have suggested that the death of Hamnet served as inspiration for the iconic play about a grief-stricken prince unraveling his life and kingdom after encountering his deceased father’s ghost.
Zhao’s poignant narrative delves into the intimate story of Shakespeare (portrayed by Paul Mescal) as he meets and weds Anne Hathaway (also known as Agnes, played by Jessie Buckley), shares fleeting moments of happiness with his children, and faces the sudden loss of their only son, portrayed with remarkable maturity by Jacobi Jupe. The film captures the profound impact of this tragedy on the tender world Zhao meticulously constructs, focusing more on portraying the disaster in a biblical light rather than traditional character development.
The parallels between the grief of Hamlet and Hamnet have sparked extensive theorizing about Shakespeare’s personal life, with Maggie O’Farrell, the author of the book on which “Hamnet” is based, contributing to this discourse. However, due to scant historical records, definitive conclusions about the connection between Hamnet’s death and “Hamlet” remain elusive. The cause of Hamnet’s demise, often attributed to the bubonic plague but subject to various interpretations, adds layers of complexity to the narrative.
While scholarly focus has traditionally centered on Shakespeare’s literary contributions rather than his familial experiences, Zhao’s interpretation of “Hamnet” aims to explore the universal tragedy of losing a child rather than provide historical accuracy. Through evocative cinematography and nuanced storytelling, Zhao captures the reverberating effects of grief and the struggle to find solace amidst despair, mirroring a prevailing theme in contemporary cinema that confronts pain without offering easy resolutions.
Despite some critiques of emotional manipulation and occasional detachment in Zhao’s portrayal, “Hamnet” shines in its raw depiction of human suffering and reimagining of the “Hamlet” mythos. By infusing Hamlet with a newfound emotional depth rooted in personal tragedy, Zhao prompts viewers to ponder the profound existential questions echoed in Shakespeare’s timeless work.
