Forced to Be the Fine Line: How Shakespeare's Hamlet, Henry V, and George Lucas' Anakin Skywalker Embody Exile and Estrangement

Authors

Madeline Nicole Cisneros, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

English

First Advisor's Name

James Sutton

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Michael Grafals

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Maneck Daruwala

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

Shakespeare, Star Wars, Hamlet, Henry V, Anakin Skywalker, Exile, Estrangement

Date of Defense

3-16-2023

Abstract

The main purpose of this thesis is to bring Shakespearean works and characters forward in time by placing them in analysis alongside one contemporary character, revealing a deep sameness between all three. The chosen characters for this analysis are the Shakespearean figures of Hamlet and Henry V, and the contemporary choice of Anakin Skywalker from George Lucas’ “Star Wars” films. This thesis deconstructs all three characters by revealing them as metaphoric exiles, a unique character construction which utilizes the theories of exile of scholars such as Edward Said and André Aciman. This thesis proposes the argument that the choice to construct these characters in this unique way reveals a compelling similarity between the two authors—a common goal to defamiliarize their audiences with the same two-dimensional understanding of identity. Both authors, then, seem to have been interested in revealing the same seed of truth about humanity, and chose to do so in precisely the same way.

Identifier

FIDC011028

Recommended Citation

Cisneros, Madeline Nicole, "Forced to Be the Fine Line: How Shakespeare's Hamlet, Henry V, and George Lucas' Anakin Skywalker Embody Exile and Estrangement" (2023). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5295.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5295