Hamlet by William Shakespeare

"The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" by William Shakespeare is a classic play written during the late 16th to early 17th century. The text revolves around themes of revenge, madness, and moral corruption, primarily focusing on the character of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, who grapples with the sudden death of his father and the hasty remarriage of his mother, Gertrude, to his uncle, Claudius. The opening of "Hamlet" begins with the anxious guards Barnardo and Francisco on watch, leading to the appearance of the ghost of King Hamlet. They are later joined by Horatio and Marcellus, who express their concerns about the ghost's return, fearing it may herald ill news for the state. The ghost's appearance triggers conversations about the current political unrest due to Norway's Fortinbras seeking to reclaim land lost by his father. The scene sets the stage for young Hamlet's deepening sorrow and ensuing quest for truth regarding his father's mysterious death, particularly after Horatio reveals having seen the ghost which resembles the late king. As the drama unfolds, it becomes clear that Hamlet will navigate through layers of intrigue, betrayal, and existential despair in pursuit of revenge and understanding of his world turned upside-down. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
Title Hamlet
Note The First Folio, 1623
Note Wikipedia page about this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet
Reading Level Reading ease score: 88.9 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject Tragedies (Drama)
Subject Hamlet (Legendary character) -- Drama
Subject Kings and rulers -- Succession -- Drama
Subject Murder victims' families -- Drama
Subject Fathers -- Death -- Drama
Subject Revenge -- Drama
Subject Princes -- Drama
Subject Denmark -- Drama
Category Text
EBook-No. 1122
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Sep 23, 2025
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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