Hamlet

This article is about the play by William Shakespeare. For its protagonist, see Prince Hamlet. For the type of settlement, see Hamlet (place). For other uses, see Hamlet (disambiguation).

Hamlet
Hamlet portrayed by Edwin Booth (c. 1870)
Written byWilliam Shakespeare
Based on
  • Legend of Amleth (Gesta Danorum)
  • The Spanish Tragedy
  • Ur-Hamlet
  • See: Sources of Hamlet
Characters
  • Hamlet
  • Claudius
  • Gertrude
  • Polonius
  • Ophelia
  • Laertes
  • Horatio
Date premieredc. 1599–1601
Original languageEarly Modern English
GenreShakespearean tragedy
SettingElsinore, other parts of Denmark

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet (/ˈhæmlɪt/), 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."[1] It is widely considered one of the greatest plays of all time.[2] 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.[3] Many works have been pointed to as possible sources for Shakespeare's play, from ancient Greek tragedies to Elizabethan dramas.

  1. ^ Thompson & Taylor 2006a, p. 74.
  2. ^ Propst, Andy (28 November 2022). "50 Best Plays of All Time: Comedies, Tragedies and Dramas Ranked". Time Out New York. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  3. ^ Weiner 1962, pp. 1–3.
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