Comrade Shakespeare – how old is Hamlet?

Is there a more beautiful job than writing to the comrade Shakespeare every two weeks? This activity is not entirely unrivaled. André Müller sen. For example, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday these days, traveled from Cologne to Munich every year to pass on his knowledge of William Shakespeare at the drama school.

In addition to theater critics and editors, writers and long-time confidants of the socialist classic Peter Hacks, the many professions and honorary names from Müller also include the attribute “Shakespeare-Expert”. There are some; Most of them have to attribute the expertise themselves. At Müller, on the other hand, there is no doubt about his far -reaching knowledge of the Shakespeare works.

The titles of two known books by Müller are meaningful: “Shakespeare without secret” and “Understand Shakespeare”. His procedure was and is therefore clear in the clear contradiction to a theater practice that has become a cliché picture of itself and is celebrating the mysterious on Shakespeare and all too often undermines a real understanding. With his means as an enlightener – an enlightener who has read his Marx – with his means, Müller confidently opposes this staging.

Many Shakespeare experts optionally speculate in the tireless contextualization and in the search in historical or lively speculate. Both find their audience, both may also be justified. Müller, this unacademic scribe, preferred to stay close to the words and searched for knowledge in the dramas.

“André Müller’s procedure to read the” Hamlet “is,” says Peter Hacks in the foreword to one of the Müller Shakespeare studies, “he read the” Hamlet “.” And further: “The advantage of André Müller’s method is her evidence. He does not speak: so and so I interpret the ›Hamlet‹, he says: that and that is in it. (…) It comes to the day that ShakePeare himself had ideas and the interpreter may not need so much. ”

Hacks also describes us a dispute that he had with a woman. It was about Hamlet’s age. The figure had to be 17, she said. Their behavior would hardly be acceptable in an adult. Hacks held against it, explained Hamlet’s property through his youth and therefore purely psychologically, the philosophical meaning of the problem is affected. We learn from Hacks: »This dispute has now been decided. At Shakespeare it says, Hamlet is 30. André Müller says that it is with Shakespeare. «

Shakespeare’s cleverness and world content are out of the question. If you want to participate, you have to read the master. And you learn to read from André Müller.