The ghost of Hamlet’s father reveals to him that he was murdered by his own brother, who succeeded him on the throne of Denmark. He asks his son to avenge him. Hamlet feigns madness to pull the wool over his mother’s and uncle’s eyes, as he stages a puppet play that has them believe he knows about their crime. As he argues with his mother, he discovers that they are being spied on by the courtier Oldenholm and he throws him out the window, into the moats of the castle. Oldenholm’s daughter – Ophelia – believes that his father has died and loses her sanity: but Hamlet has secretly saved him from drowning. Ophelia reunites with her father and comes back to her senses. However, the king wants to dispose of his nephew by sending him to war against Napoleon, under Admiral Nelson’s commands. Hamlet finds out about this conspiracy. During the farewell dance organised for him, he has the king drink the poison that was meant for him. He then ascends the throne of Denmark and marries Ophelia. His uncle, who was saved at death’s door, is exiled to Greenland.

String marionette

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Schink Johann Friedrich

Germany

Ratzeburg

Printed

Philosophy

Idealism

Madness

Murder

Politics

Court life

Plot

Love

Commedia dell'arte

Shakespeare

Satirical

Parodistic

Burlesque

Illustration on the cover page of the 1800 edition.

German

Momus und sein Guckkasten

Ein Marionettenspiel

Hamlet

Guard

Captain

Queen

Courtier

Ophelia

Ghost

Puppeteer

Pantaloon

Colombine

Pierrot

Prince

Il Dottore (Commedia dell'arte)

Scapin

Polichinelle

Prologue

Address to the public

Sung scenes

Monologue

Metadiscourse on puppet theatre

Comic equivocation

Allegory

Political allegory

Allusion to current literary events

Instrumental tune

Pantomime

Play in verse

Prinz Hamlet von Dännemark

Hamlet Prince of Danemark

Accompanied by his horseman Kasperl Larifari, prince Roseroth (Red-rose) is desperately looking for princess Lilienweiß. The fairy Liebinniglich appears in his dream and reveals that Lilienweiß (White Lily) was turned into a flower by the magician Negromanticus: it is a way for him to take revenge on the women who turned him down. With the help of the knight Hugo von Felseck–turned into a bear by the magician–Rosenroth fights and kills the dragon that was keeping the enchanted oak: a branch of this tree will allow Rosenroth to turn the flowers and animals back into humans. They all manage to enter Negromanticus’ garden, apart from Kasperl who is turned into a donkey. Rosenroth rescues the women that were turned into flowers, as well as Hugo von Felseck and of course Kasperl. The fairy Liebinniglich defeats the wizard once and for all, as he disappears amidst the flames.