Hamlet's Father

Plot

The story follows the general plot of Hamlet, but Hamlet is disconnected from his indifferent father and does not envy Claudius, whom he considers a fine monarch. He grieves little after Ophelia's death and is presented as moral and unwavering. At the end, it is revealed that Horatio killed King Hamlet in retaliation for the king having molested him as a young boy. The king also molested Laertes, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. Hamlet is sent to Hell to be with his father for eternity.

Development and publication

Card had previously modernized other Shakespeare plays, including The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, and Romeo and Juliet. In his foreword, Card stated he could not identify with Hamlet, having little interest in a dithering hero or revenge plots. He wrote the story in response, acknowledging potential backlash. The novella was originally published by Tor Books in the Marvin Kaye-edited anthology Ghost Quartet, a collection of ghost stories. It was reprinted in 2011 by Subterranean Press in a limited run of one thousand signed copies. The reprint generated controversy for the publisher over allegedly homophobic themes, prompting a reply from Subterranean Press' publisher.

Reception and controversy

Little reaction occurred during the story's initial run in Ghost Quartet. Publishers Weekly reviewed the book, noting its pacing felt like a draft for a longer story and that it linked homosexuality to pedophilia. A negative review by William Alexander in Rain Taxi brought the book wider attention, asserting that Horatio, Laertes, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern were gay and that King Hamlet's molestation of them turned them all gay. Alexander cited Card's views that homosexuals are not born homosexual and that there is often an underlying history of sexual abuse.

The review suggested the story's Hamlet was himself gay. After the Rain Taxi article, outlets including IO9, SF Site, and The Guardian commented on the link between homosexuality and pedophilia. Card responded on his website Hatrack, stating none of the characters were gay and that Hamlet's father was a pedophile, period. He said his opposition to gay marriage had caused accusations of homophobia, and pointed to sympathetic gay characters he had written in earlier decades.

He stated that vilification by the Left prompted him to write fewer gay characters. David Soyka of SF Site suggested Hamlet's Father could be good introductory reading for high school, though schools might be uncomfortable with Card's take on Hamlet's Oedipal complex.