Hamlet
Sign in to saveThe Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play depicts Prince Hamlet and his attempts to exact revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Hamlet's mother.
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Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, written between 1599 and 1601, that follows Prince Hamlet as he seeks revenge against his uncle Claudius for murdering Hamlet's father to steal the throne and marry his mother. The play is Shakespeare's longest work and remains one of his most celebrated, exploring themes of betrayal, madness, and moral conflict through Hamlet's struggle to avenge his father's death.
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Key facts
- Play.name
- Hamlet
- Play.image
- Edwin Booth Hamlet 1870.jpg
- Play.caption
- Hamlet portrayed by Edwin Booth ()
- Play.writer
- William Shakespeare
- Play.characters
- Hamlet Claudius Gertrude Polonius Ophelia Laertes Horatio
- Play.setting
- Elsinore, other parts of Denmark
- Play.orig_lang
- Early Modern English
- Play.genre
- Shakespearean tragedy
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
42 sectionsContents
- Characters
- Plot
- Act I
- Act II
- Act III
- Act IV
- Act V
- Sources
- Date
- Texts
- Analysis and criticism
- Critical history
- Dramatic structure
- Length
- Language
- Context and interpretation
- Religious
- Philosophical
- Psychoanalytic
- Sigmund Freud
- Jacques Lacan
- Feminist
- Influence
- Performance history
- Shakespeare's day to the Interregnum
- Restoration and 18th century
- 19th century
- 20th century
- 21st century
- Film and TV performances
- Derivative works
- See also
- Notes and references
- Notes
- References
- Sources
- Editions of ''Hamlet''
- Secondary sources
- Further reading
- External links
- Texts
- Analysis
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play depicts Prince Hamlet and his attempts to exact revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Hamlet's mother.
Hamlet is considered among the "most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language", with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others". It is widely considered one of the greatest plays of all time. Three different early versions of the play are extant: the First Quarto (Q1, 1603); the Second Quarto (Q2, 1604); and the First Folio (F1, 1623). Each version includes lines and passages missing from the others. Many works have been pointed to as possible sources for Shakespeare's play, from ancient Greek tragedies to Elizabethan dramas. ==Characters== Hamletson of the late king and nephew of the present king, Claudius ClaudiusKing of Denmark, Hamlet's uncle and brother to the former king GertrudeQueen of Denmark and Hamlet's mother Poloniuschief counsellor to the king OpheliaPolonius's daughter Horatiofriend of Hamlet LaertesPolonius's son Voltemand and Corneliuscourtiers Rosencrantz and Guildensterncourtiers, friends of Hamlet Osrica courtier Marcellusan officer Bernardoan officer (spelled Barnardo or Barnard in quarto versions) Franciscoa soldier ReynaldoPolonius's servant Ghostthe ghost of Hamlet's father, King Hamlet Fortinbrasprince of Norway Gravediggersa pair of sextons Player King, Player Queen, Lucianus, etc.players