The story of Hamlet

Hamlet appears for the first time more that 800 years ago in the Saxo Grammaticus’ History of Denmark. From Saxo the myth was passed on to Christiern Pedersen who in 1514 published the story of ‘Amled’. This publication was echoed beyond the borders of the country, and with the appearance in 1590 of the reproduction by the English dramatist Thomas Kyd the work became a drama of revenge.

Presumably with inspiration from the above William Shakespeare around year 1600 wrote ‘Tragical History of Hamlet; Prince of Denmark’ and hereby immortalized Saxo’s legendary prince. The attachment of the myth to Elsinore and Kronborg was not a fact until Shakespeare brought these locations into the picture. This can presumably be explained by the importance of the town in the 17th century. Thanks to the Sound Duty, the special tariff which all passing ships had to pay to the town, Elsinore’s status was that of a ‘trafic junction’ for international navigation at te time.

The reason for the town to have a cultural significance is also owed to the then newly built royal castle, Kronborg. Whether Shakespeare actually visited Elsinore is not known. However, it is certain that several English and Scottish actors from his circle performed as guest players, both at Kronborg and in Elsonore town itself. It is from these people that stories about the bright castle at the Sound could have reached Shakespeare and inspired him to place the plot in this location.