Studija o Hamletu

A Study of Hamlet is one of the most significant critical and essayistic works of Croatian literature of the first half of the 20th century. The text was originally published in serials in the journal Savremenik in 1915, and was later published as a standalone booklet.

Nehajev approaches Hamlet in a characteristic manner – not as a classical philologist or theater scholar, but as a modern psychologist and literary critic influenced by Taine, Brandes and European modernity. The focus of his study is not the plot of the drama, but the character of the Danish prince as a paradigmatic example of a modern intellectual. For Nehajev, Hamlet is a cynic and a despairing man, steeped in fatalism and determinism, a person of passive nature and sick will. His tragedy stems from the fact that he stands "outside of people and above people, and therefore against people".

The author emphasizes that Shakespeare's drama distends from Aristotle's rules, which is precisely the reason for its eternal modernity. Hamlet's impotence, disgust towards the world, resentment towards the environment and the belief that nobility cannot change the rotten order - Nehajev sees all of this as deeply contemporary. In Hamlet, he recognizes the type of personality that will later dominate his own novels and short stories (especially in The Escape): sensitive, intelligent, but paralyzed individuals who perish in the conflict with harsh reality.

The study is written in an elegant, subtle and analytical style, with rich language and deep insights into the human psyche. Nehajev combines philosophical reflection, psychological analysis and literary criticism, creating a text that is both an interpretation of Shakespeare and a self-portrait of a modern Croatian intellectual at the beginning of the 20th century.

This edition from 1917 is today a rarity on the antiquarian market and represents a valuable insight into Nehajev's critical oeuvre. The work testifies to the author's exceptional education, knowledge of European literature and ability to translate great classical themes into a contemporary, personal and national context. It is essential reading for lovers of Shakespeare, Croatian essay writing and modern literary criticism.