Shakespeare in the bush: Gender constructions and interpretations of Hamlet by the West African Tiv

This paper analyses how gender is constructed by the Tivs through their interpretation of Hamlet in comparison with Shakespeare projects these characters. Hamlet, a tragic play Shakespeare, presents patriarchal system governance strong themes betrayal, love, kinship, religion, and revenge. The lack agency autonomy women, sexual objectification, plagues as victims patriarchy portrayed vivid presentation fate women world. While may seem universal, contradictory Nigeria demands an inquiry into people Tiv construct interpret Shakespeare's Hamlet. paper, therefore, compares Tiv's culture values Shakespeare’s argues that Tiv’s construction contradicts Western conceptions gruesome performance Africa presented literature. analysis revealed gave more agency, power, respect to differed significantly from masculinization witchcraft demeaning male characters less honour power interpretations constructions present rather diverging representation based on cultural negotiations lived experiences; thereby, demonstrating dynamism shapes constructions.