«Caprice-problem»: Hamlet through the prism of Verlen in Innokenty Annensky's criticism

In the article the musical motif of caprice is traced as a link in the artistic dialogue: Shakespeare - Verlen - Annensky. Through this dialogue a sequential analysis of an unusual interpretation of Hamlet in the essay by Innokenty Annensky (in the context of other interpretations of this «eternal image») is given. The artistic interpretation synthetic nature, typical to the turn of XIX century and characterising the individual style of a critic, poet and translator all in one (musicality and theatricality), is emphasised. A translation of Verlen's Caprice is included into the research.