Shakespeare in the Bush by Laura Bohannan Summary

In “Shakespeare in the Bush,” American anthropologist Laura Bohannan recounts her experience of explaining Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” to the Tiv people of West Africa, highlighting the cultural differences in interpreting the play.

Before leaving for West Africa, Bohannan discusses with a friend the potential challenges of understanding Shakespeare outside of English culture. Her friend suggests that Americans, and possibly other cultures, might misinterpret Shakespeare due to cultural differences. To test this idea, he gives Bohannan a copy of “Hamlet” to read during her fieldwork among the Tiv.

Bohannan arrives at a remote Tiv homestead led by an old, knowledgeable man. Expecting to observe many ceremonies, she finds that the rising swamps prevent the elders from performing them. Instead, the community spends their days drinking beer, singing, dancing, and telling stories. Bohannan often joins these gatherings but spends much of her time reading “Hamlet” in her hut.

One morning, while visiting the old man’s hut, Bohannan is urged by the elders to tell them a story. Despite her protests about not being a skilled storyteller, the elders insist and promise not to criticize her. They are eager to hear a story from her country. Seeing this as an opportunity to prove the universal intelligibility of “Hamlet,” Bohannan begins to tell the story, adjusting her language and explanations to fit Tiv culture.

She starts by describing the appearance of the ghost of Hamlet’s father. The Tiv elders immediately interpret the ghost as an omen sent by a witch, as they do not believe in ghosts. Bohannan explains that the ghost reveals he was murdered by Hamlet’s uncle, now the king, which deeply troubles Hamlet. However, the Tiv find nothing unusual about the mother’s quick remarriage to the brother-in-law, as it aligns with their customs. They believe it is proper and beneficial for the widow and her children.

As Bohannan continues, she faces further misunderstandings. The Tiv have different views on madness, revenge, and other elements central to “Hamlet.” For example, they see Hamlet’s feigned madness as genuine insanity caused by witchcraft. The Tiv also find it appropriate for the new king to marry his brother’s widow, as it ensures the family’s well-being.

When Bohannan describes Hamlet’s hesitation and moral dilemmas, the Tiv are puzzled. They think Hamlet should have acted more decisively and cannot understand his internal conflict. They view the plot twists and character motivations through the lens of their own cultural norms and beliefs.

In the end, Bohannan realizes that the Tiv’s interpretations of “Hamlet” are very different from her own. The experience demonstrates that what might seem universal in one culture can be understood quite differently in another. Human nature might be similar across the world, but the details and customs that shape people’s understanding of stories can vary greatly. Bohannan’s experiment reveals the complexities of cross-cultural communication and the challenges of translating literature and ideas across cultural boundaries.

Shakespeare in the Bush by Laura Bohannan Analysis

In “Shakespeare in the Bush,” Laura Bohannan provides a fascinating exploration of how cultural context affects the interpretation of literature. Her attempt to share Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with the Tiv people of West Africa highlights significant differences in worldview, revealing that understanding and meaning are deeply influenced by cultural background.

Cultural Relativity and Interpretation

One of the key points in Bohannan’s story is the idea of cultural relativity—the notion that beliefs, values, and practices are best understood within their own cultural context. When Bohannan begins to tell the story of “Hamlet,” she assumes that its themes of betrayal, revenge, and madness are universal and would be easily understood by the Tiv. However, the Tiv interpret the story through the lens of their own cultural norms and experiences, leading to very different understandings of the plot and characters.

Ghosts and Omens

The appearance of King Hamlet’s ghost is a pivotal moment in the play, but the Tiv do not believe in ghosts as Western cultures do. Instead, they interpret the ghost as an omen sent by a witch. This fundamental difference in belief systems shows how cultural background shapes the understanding of supernatural elements in stories. For the Tiv, witches and omens are real and significant, while ghosts are not part of their worldview.

Marriage Customs

Another major point of divergence is the Tiv’s perspective on Gertrude’s quick remarriage to Claudius. In “Hamlet,” this is seen as a sign of infidelity and moral corruption. However, the Tiv find it entirely appropriate and beneficial for a widow to marry her deceased husband’s brother. This practice ensures the well-being of the widow and her children, reflecting the importance of family continuity and support in Tiv culture.

Madness and Behavior

Hamlet’s feigned madness is another aspect that the Tiv interpret differently. They perceive Hamlet’s behavior as true madness, likely caused by witchcraft. This interpretation aligns with their belief in supernatural causes for mental illness. The concept of pretending to be mad to achieve a goal does not fit within their understanding of human behavior. This highlights how psychological and behavioral norms can vary widely between cultures.

Revenge and Justice

The theme of revenge is central to “Hamlet,” but the Tiv have different views on justice and retribution. While Western interpretations of the play focus on Hamlet’s internal struggle with revenge, the Tiv see his hesitation as foolish. They believe he should have acted decisively to resolve the conflict, reflecting a more direct approach to justice in their culture.

Storytelling and Communication

Bohannan’s experience also underscores the challenges of cross-cultural communication. The Tiv are skilled storytellers with their own traditions and methods of narration. They expect stories to be told in a certain way and require explanations for elements that do not fit their cultural framework. Bohannan’s struggle to convey “Hamlet” effectively demonstrates the complexities of translating stories across cultures. It reveals how storytelling is not just about the plot but also about the cultural context that gives it meaning.

Universality of Human Experience

While Bohannan initially believes that human nature and the core themes of “Hamlet” are universal, her experience with the Tiv suggests otherwise. The differences in interpretation show that what seems like a universal human experience can be understood very differently depending on cultural background. This challenges the idea of universal themes in literature, suggesting instead that understanding is always mediated by cultural context.

“Shakespeare in the Bush” is a powerful illustration of how deeply culture influences interpretation and understanding. Bohannan’s attempt to share “Hamlet” with the Tiv reveals that stories and their meanings are not universal but are shaped by the cultural frameworks within which they are told and received. Her experience highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in cross-cultural communication, showing that what might seem clear and universal in one culture can be entirely different in another.