To podcast or to not podcast

In this podcast episode, the host interviews William Shakespeare about his play Hamlet. They discuss the setting of the play, the conflicts driving the plot, Hamlet's relationship with his mother, and the tragic ending. Shakespeare explains his choices and how they contribute to the themes of the play. They also answer some audience questions about the relevance of Hamlet today and how to approach reading the play. The episode ends with a discussion on Ophelia's character and a reflection on the podcast. Hi guys, welcome back to the podcast. This week's episode is called to podcast or to not podcast because we have a very special guest, the famous poet, William Shakespeare. This week we are going to be diving into the life of William Shakespeare as we try to unravel what went through his mind when writing his story Hamlet. First and foremost, I just want to thank you for being here with us today and taking time out of your week. I know that it wasn't an easy commute. Oh, of course. Well, thank you for having me. I was thrilled when my manager informed me that you would be delighted by my presence on your podcast. I've watched a few of your episodes and may I just say I am rather impressed. Well thank you. Can I ask what you like to be referred to as, your last, your first name? Many people know me and refer to me as my last name, but you can just call me Will. Okay then Will, let's get started then. Okay, so first I'm going to start off by asking you some questions of mine and then we can switch and we'll open up to the public's questions. Okay sounds good. First, let's start with an easy one. How did you choose the setting of your play and why? See, one might find that a rather easy question, but it's actually complex the more you dive into it. Well, after coming up with the storyline, I could not think of a setting more perfect than Elisinaur Castle in Denmark. It just fit the overall vibe and what I was trying to portray. It went along to the coldness and moral corruption of the story. The castle was dark and isolated, it just fit. Yeah, I personally liked that the cold, isolated castle matched how Hamlet was feeling on the inside. Did you do that on purpose? Yes, that was the vision of mine, that I wanted the setting to really reflect how Hamlet felt and also give the ambiance of death and you know, just immerse the reader in the play. Yeah, I actually think you did a great job of that. Was there any other setting you were between or was it always going to be Denmark? Well, at first when I was thinking about the setting, I was going to have it take place in England, but I don't know, I wasn't wild about it and it seemed a little preposterous. Then I had a dream one night about it being in Denmark and it was just the perfect fit. Wait, that's so crazy that the idea came to you in a dream, has that ever happened before? I know, it did indeed frighten me at first, but yes, it has happened a few times actually, but only once with Hamlet. I came up with some of the other names of characters in my other plays, like Romeo and Juliet, through my dreams, but when I decided to switch it to Denmark, I made England a destination of where Hamlet was sent to by Claudius. Oh, very interesting. Let's move on to discussing the major conflicts in your story. So I know the whole story, especially the conflicts, are pretty complex. Can you explain to us the main conflicts driving the plot? Yes, so overall, Hamlet is about the young prince's journey for revenge against Uncle Claudius, his father's murderer. This external conflict is compounded by Hamlet's internal struggle with his own doubts and moral dilemmas. It's a blend of personal vendetta and existential crisis. Tell us more. Well, for example, one of the conflicts is Hamlet's deep emotions. They inevitably got the best of him. He was so depressed and burdened by this task to get revenge that he let it overcome him. Another conflict was his relationship with his mother. Yes, can I ask why you chose for his mother to remarry the uncle? I thought that was a pretty bold move. Yes, so when I was writing the story, I thought that it would add to Hamlet's distress and confliction. It was another layer that I thought the story needed. Yeah, I agree. It definitely made the story more interesting. Yes, I wanted Hamlet to have a complicated relationship with his mother, and I thought that this was the perfect, unique, and disturbing way to do it. The whole story was already disturbing, so I knew it would fit in perfectly. Yeah, I agree. Can you tell us more about Hamlet and his mother's relationship? Hamlet's internal struggle was that he loved his mother, of course, but was appalled by her actions and felt betrayed. This led him to feel isolated and alone, which added to his depressive episode and questioning of life's purpose. Very genius. Why, thank you. Okay, so kind of going along with what we just talked about, let's talk about the plot line a little more. Do you mind summarizing your story? Yes, of course. Hamlet is confronted by the ghost of King Hamlet and reveals that he was murdered by his brother Claudius, who has now taken the throne. Prince Hamlet promises he will get revenge and honor his father's memory, but struggles with his conscience and the moral implications of his actions. He goes through many emotions and bumps in the road. The play ends in a tragic series of events, leading to the deaths of many of the main characters, including Hamlet himself. Can I ask why you chose that ending and why you cut off all the main characters? Yeah, I chose the ending ultimately for dramatic effect and to go along with the themes of the play. One of the main themes is tragedy. What's more tragic than killing off the main characters? Yeah, that's true. It also went along with my theme of mortality. I wanted my audience to ponder about life, death, and what comes after. Me and my audience and characters confront the reality and inevitability of death. Wow, very fascinating. Yeah, there are a few other reasons as to why I chose the ending, but I know that you wanted to leave some time for the public's questions. Oh, yeah. That's right. Let's get those. So, first, why do you think Hamlet is still relevant today in this day and age? That's an excellent question. I think because the story talks about the topics of betrayal, revenge, and the struggle of knowing the purpose of life. These topics are still very relevant in today's world. Yes, I agree. Another question was for those who are new to Hamlet. How do you think they should approach reading the book? Another great question. I think depending on the age range, it could be easier to start by watching the film. The style of writing can be confusing for many because of the time period it was written in. It also helps you read the play while watching the film so you can follow along. Oh, I like that advice. I might have to do that. What is a cool fun fact about Hamlet? Something that I think is cool is that the character of Hamlet has the most line of any character in all of my plays. Oh, that is really interesting. Is Hamlet your favorite character? No, I don't know who my favorite character is. They're all so different in their own ways. I get that. Last question. What inspired Ophelia's character and her tragic end? Good question. Ophelia is an example of the impact of the court's corruption and the pressures placed on her by the men in her life. Her tragic end exemplifies as a commentary on the vulnerability and mistreatment of women in a patriarchal society. Sadly, since that's all the time we have today, I think this is a great way to end the podcast. Thank you so much again, Will, for coming on the podcast, and I hope you guys enjoyed learning about Hamlet just as much as I did. Of course. Well, this was a blast. Thank you so much for having me. All right. Well, that concludes today. I hope you guys all enjoyed this week's episode of To Podcast or To Not Podcast. See you all next week.