Montaigne in Shakespeare's Hamlet: a philosophical reading and examination of Montaigne's influence on Shakespeare
Faculty Mentor
Christopher Kirby
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
4-14-2026 11:40 AM
End Date
4-14-2026 12:00 PM
Location
PUB 323
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Philosophy
Abstract
John Florio translated Michel de Montaigne’s Essays into English in 1603, the same year that Hamlet is believed to have been written by Shakespeare. Prior to this, manuscripts of Montaigne’s Essays circulated in the same circles Shakespeare frequented, making it probable and reasonable to assume that Shakespeare had encountered Montaigne’s writing at length. The influence of Montaigne on Shakespeare is underdiscussed, and much of Hamlet suggests a deep influence of Montaignian skepticism on Shakespeare. The Act 3, scene one soliloquy in Hamlet mirrors much of Montaigne’s essay “To Philosophize is to Learn to Die” in its discussion of fear and mortality. This fear that creates inaction contributes to the way the reader sees Montaignian skepticism in both Hamlet and Horatio, making both characters function as foils of each other as they gravitate to opposite expressions of Montaignian skepticism. This, as well as other moments in the play where Shakespeare borrows wording and structure from Montaigne, demonstrates not only his influence on Shakespeare but also reframes the importance of Hamlet as not just a literary work of great merit, but also a philosophical drama that showcases skepticism of the time period. This reading, deepened by Montaigne’s philosophical themes, heightens the tragic significance by weaving in an existential tension that elevates its stakes far beyond the limited perspectives of the characters themselves.
Recommended Citation
Wren, Anna, "Montaigne in Shakespeare's Hamlet: a philosophical reading and examination of Montaigne's influence on Shakespeare" (2026). 2026 Symposium. 8.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2026/op_2026/o4_2026/8
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Montaigne in Shakespeare's Hamlet: a philosophical reading and examination of Montaigne's influence on Shakespeare
PUB 323
John Florio translated Michel de Montaigne’s Essays into English in 1603, the same year that Hamlet is believed to have been written by Shakespeare. Prior to this, manuscripts of Montaigne’s Essays circulated in the same circles Shakespeare frequented, making it probable and reasonable to assume that Shakespeare had encountered Montaigne’s writing at length. The influence of Montaigne on Shakespeare is underdiscussed, and much of Hamlet suggests a deep influence of Montaignian skepticism on Shakespeare. The Act 3, scene one soliloquy in Hamlet mirrors much of Montaigne’s essay “To Philosophize is to Learn to Die” in its discussion of fear and mortality. This fear that creates inaction contributes to the way the reader sees Montaignian skepticism in both Hamlet and Horatio, making both characters function as foils of each other as they gravitate to opposite expressions of Montaignian skepticism. This, as well as other moments in the play where Shakespeare borrows wording and structure from Montaigne, demonstrates not only his influence on Shakespeare but also reframes the importance of Hamlet as not just a literary work of great merit, but also a philosophical drama that showcases skepticism of the time period. This reading, deepened by Montaigne’s philosophical themes, heightens the tragic significance by weaving in an existential tension that elevates its stakes far beyond the limited perspectives of the characters themselves.
