Sp63E Grief in Life & Fiction: Shakespeare, Hamnet & Hamlet (Zoom; OLLI @ ASU)

Zoom | Available (Membership Required)

6/11/2026 (one day)
4:00 PM-5:30 PM EDT on Th
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Sp63E Grief in Life & Fiction: Shakespeare, Hamnet & Hamlet (Zoom; OLLI @ ASU)

Zoom | Available (Membership Required)

This class explores Hamnet - Maggie O’Farrell’s historical novel and its recent Oscar-nominated film - alongside Shakespeare’s life and his most enduring work, Hamlet. How did the death of Shakespeare’s son Hamnet influence his writing of Hamlet? We will compare short scenes from the film, excerpts from the novel, and passages from the play to investigate how this personal loss resonates throughout Hamlet, offering profound reflections on grief, memory, and the transformative power of art.

  • Cristiane Busato Smith is a teacher, writer, and memoir writing instructor. She holds an MA in English literature and a PhD in literary studies. She is the author of Ophelia and the Arts and the forthcoming (2025) The Stories You Need to Tell, as well as co-author and editor of the bilingual book Entre-Between. Her essays on Shakespeare have appeared in edited collections across Brazil, North America, Europe, and Asia. She serves as lead editor for Brazil at the Global Shakespeares and Shakespeare in Brazil digital projects, both from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

    *This registration item is ZOOM-only; there is not an in-person component to this course. It is offered and run by The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Arizona State University.*