Hamlet Meets Taylor Swift: Breaking Down Connections Between "Hamlet" and Taylor Swift's Songs E112

"Pretend he doesn’t know that he’s the reason why you’re drowning." This week we're exploring Shakespeare's Hamlet through Taylor Swift's lens, diving into the psychological depths of revenge, agency, and the fate of being a silenced woman. From the “Real Housewives of Shakespeare” (yes, really) to the drowning weight of societal expectations, we unpack how Taylor uses one of literature's most tragic figures to explore modern questions about independence, relationships, and female agency.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Hamlet, William Shakespeare
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard
The Lion King
The Traitors
Real Housewives
E92: Revenge Narratives
The Sound of Music
Sister Act
The Female Malady, Elaine Showalter
E31: Show and Tell - Shakespeare
E23: Mad Woman



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Episode Highlights
[01:03] Hamlet 101
[11:02] “I Knew You Were Trouble,” RED
[23:50] “Anti-Hero,” Midnights
[34:56] “The Fate of Ophelia,” The Life of a Showgirl



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This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.