Does Hamlet have an Identity?

This question popped into my mind yesterday. "Does Hamlet have an identity?"


This question was inspired by several things.

First , due to my ponderings of identity as a reference, courtesy the philosopher, Saul Kripke, who came up with the Causal Theory of Reference and Theory of Proper Names (the Bart Simpson version of this can be found here )

Second, upon reading an article by David Weinberger, entitled The Year of the Unique ID. where he discusses how we should uniquely identify Shakespeare's creation of Hamlet, as a work, expression, manifestation, or item.

I realized through my hazy Kripke lens, I should ask the silly but profound question "Does Hamlet have an identity?". Some might say, this is a ridiculous question, because Hamlet is a fictional character. Practically speaking, yes, but by pursuing this question, we can learn more about the true function of identity - a question that gets easily swept under the rug.

I'm on work time right now - so I'll keep the following short: I'll pose some related questions.

Does Hamlet need an identity? - Hamlet himself, does not - but we need to ascribe him one - if we are to have a conversation about him. We need to have a common reference. Shakespearian scholars need to give Hamlet an identity, if they are to analyze his motives, feelings, etc. If we can't arrive at a common or definitive reference (it's just some guy in a play) - then we can't progress very far on Hamlet.

What exactly is Hamlet's identity? If you take the identity management vendor approach - it's his name, date-of-birth, SSN, plus some biometric. Heck, I'll have to re-read the play to see whether Hamlet has blue eyes, but I don't think I'll be able to scan his irises?

What does identity really serve? My hunch is that identity serves our need as human beings to have absolute references (as best we can) to one another. My friends and family want to know me as 'me", regardless of my name, date-of-birth or where I live. These things only serve to help my friends and family relate to me. They might be ascribed to me as my "identity", but I'm starting to realized these things are not actually my identity. They're only things that help other people relate and interact with me.

I believe if we figure out how we relate to Hamlet as a fictional character, we can apply this to the real world, and better undertand how others (and their supporting systems) should best relate to me as a real character.

That's it for now!

Tim