Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Kenneth Koch's poem "They Say Prince Hamlet's Found a Southern Island" offers an imaginative epilogue to two of Shakespeare's most iconic tragedies: "Hamlet" and "King Lear." The poem presents alternate endings for these characters, imagining them in scenarios far removed from the tragic fates that Shakespeare ordained for them. Koch's revisionist approach serves as an intriguing thought experiment, asking readers to consider what might have happened had these characters found different paths.

The poem begins with Hamlet, who has escaped to a Southern Island where he is at peace, "happy on the baking sand" with a "lovely girl beside him." This Hamlet is far removed from the troubled, introspective prince who grappled with existential dread and filial duty. When questioned about the "Northern places," Hamlet declares, "I know them not, he cries, and love them less." This line starkly contrasts with Hamlet's previous indecisiveness and his agonized love for Ophelia and his mother, Gertrude. In Koch's alternative universe, Hamlet has found serenity by abandoning the complexities and tragedies of his past. He is "lost in loveliness," a phrase that evokes the tranquility he has found in this new life.

The second stanza brings us to King Lear, another character marked by profound suffering and loss in Shakespeare's play. Here, Lear has recovered his sanity and is teaching at a "Great university." His course is named after his beloved daughter Cordelia, whose death in the original play is a moment of heartbreaking poignancy. In this version, Lear gains comfort and solace by pointing to the clouds and declaring, "You see, you see her!" His students, caught up in this collective vision, all agree and cry, and Lear is comforted.

In the concluding lines, the speaker bids farewell to both Hamlet and Lear, suggesting that they could choose different paths once more. For Lear, the advice is to "retire and drink your beer," implying that he could find even simpler joys. For Hamlet, the speaker suggests that he leave his idyllic escape and return to Denmark to rule alongside "fair Ophelia."

Koch's poem opens up fascinating avenues for interpretation. One could read it as a form of literary wish-fulfillment, a kind gesture towards characters who have suffered much. Alternatively, it might be seen as a commentary on the complexities of human desires and destinies. Even in these imagined, happier lives, the characters still have choices to make-choices that could, theoretically, bring them closer to their original, tragic fates.

The poem serves as a testament to the enduring emotional and intellectual grip that Shakespeare's characters hold on our collective imagination. Koch's variations make us ponder not just what could have been but also deepen our understanding of these characters by presenting them in contexts that sharply contrast their original stories. It's a lyrical tribute and a critical reflection, reminding us that the richness of these classic tragedies lies not just in their prescribed outcomes, but also in the myriad alternative paths their characters could have taken.

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