Abstract

MCDANEL GARCIA, Mary Anne. Two Charismatic Giants of History and Literature: King David and Hamlet. Rev. Cient. Gen. José María Córdova [online]. 2017, vol.15, n.19, pp.309-332. ISSN 1900-6586.  https://doi.org/10.21830/19006586.86.

This paper explores the parallels of various incidents in the stories of King David and Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, two giants of history and myth, in an attempt to illustrate the magnitude of their charisma. It will compare their leadership, their inner struggles, their relationships as soldiers, friends, enemies, sons, and lovers, and the deeds they are forced to perform. They can be found to be alike in many ways, including having a hint of bipolarism as defined by Kets de Veris (2006, p. 14), world expert in leadership. Bloom (1998, 2003), Caruso (2007) and Frontain & Wojicik (1980) have mentioned that King David and Hamlet, seen in the light of similarity, are of great interest in that they illustrate Shakespeare’s knowledge of scripture as well as his ability and that of the scribes of the Old Testament to recognize a good story when they sees one. This text intends to synthesize how the complete and profound human nature of each of these monumental figures calls the attention of generation upon generation of avid admirers.

Keywords : bipolarism; charisma charismatic leader; David Myth; Shakespeare’s Hamlet; human nature; parallels.

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