by Natalia Oprea, photo: Stefano di Buduo
Who hasn’t heard the question “To be or not to be?” For over four centuries, Hamlet – through Shakespeare’s voice – has challenged us to look beyond the boundaries of theatre and question the very essence of our existence. This seemingly simple question carries a profound relevance today, perhaps even greater than in any other era.
We live in a world moving at dizzying speed, flooded with waves of information often devoid of filters or context. Personal and societal challenges seem to multiply constantly. In this landscape, Hamlet becomes a symbol of anxiety and introspection, a provocation to how we think and feel, and a compass for the fundamental questions we continue to ask – even as answers seem increasingly elusive.
The deep unrest we all feel at some point in our lives is often reflected in Hamlet’s voice: What is the meaning of it all? What lies beyond appearances and illusions? How do we find our balance when caught between reason and emotion, between action and hesitation? In a society that often prizes quick decisions and immediate success, Hamlet remains the thinker – aware and reflective – who reminds us that true understanding cannot be rushed, and that consciousness is both a burden and a gift.
Modern productions of the play often place Hamlet in unexpected settings, far from the classical framework, highlighting his adaptability and relevance. In some versions, he is surrounded by screens and monitors, a symbol of the digital anxiety that defines our time – trapped in a world saturated with images and data, yet profoundly lonely. In others, Hamlet is portrayed as an ironic, vulnerable, almost intimate young man who captivates the audience with authenticity and raw emotion.
These reinterpretations make Hamlet a powerful symbol of the modern human being – overwhelmed by choices, yet paralyzed by doubt, living in a world of seemingly endless possibilities, and yet often feeling indecisive, fragile, and uncertain.
A remarkable example is “Hamlet’s Clouds” by Eugenio Barba – a production dedicated not only to Hamnet, Shakespeare’s lost son, but also to the youth of today who see no future. Here, Hamlet becomes an abstract figure of identity crisis and personal fragmentation, expressed through experimental theatre that invites multiple interpretations. In contrast, Declan Donnellan’s direction presents Hamlet as an extroverted, determined young man, experiencing his emotions with intensity, offering a character with whom the audience can instantly empathize.
Yet perhaps the deepest question Hamlet asks is this: What do you do when you can no longer trust even yourself? When your own mind becomes unstable terrain and doubt is the only constant?
Hamlet has never been simply a play about death or madness. Beyond external drama and visible conflict, it is a mirror of the human soul – a deep reflection of our fears, our inner contradictions, our dread of consequences, and our urgent need for truth and affirmation. In this sense, Hamlet remains a constant – a character who, regardless of the era, helps us see ourselves, with all our imperfections and questions. Perhaps that’s why we love him and return to him again and again – because, no matter how much the world changes, he remains there, with his simple and yet profoundly unsettling question: “To be or not to be?”
And maybe the true answer won’t be found on the stage, but in the silence that accompanies us as the lights dim and we leave the theatre, carrying with us the echo of that question that continues to haunt us.
