The Stage Was the Message

At the turn of the 16th century there was no American first amendment, no radio, no newspaper, and of course no internet. News was presented in terms that Winstanley called ``symbolic mythology''. The main character names had to be changed or the author and actors risked being brought before the star chamber. That and the execution of Lord Essex aka Robert Devereaux who was a backer of ``Hamlet'' and other plays by the same author, for Essex's role in ``accelerating'' James to power, was a lesson not wasted on the interested parties.For the living reader several questions might be asked: Was Hamlet based on the 12th century Danish saga by Saxo Gramaticus? Or a history from the more recent Holinshed? Or was this well attended production aimed at a very curious audience as to who their next ruler might be? and what he might be? Things were looking good for James VI of Scotland, in spite of his existentialist doubts as revealed in privy correspondence between the young Scottish king and his cousin the more mature, educated in statecraft by both her ruthless father Henry VIII as well as personal experience, Queen Elizabeth as revealed by Lilian Winstanley in her Hamlet book.