48 pages • 1 hour read
William ShakespeareHamlet
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1609A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Prince Hamlet of Denmark is urged by the ghost of his deceased father to avenge his murder by killing his uncle Claudius, who has since married Hamlet's mother and claimed the throne. Hamlet feigns madness to uncover the truth, leading to a chain of events filled with intrigue, betrayal, and tragedy. Topics of murder and mental health struggles are present in the play.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
William Shakespeare's Hamlet is widely praised for its complex characters, intricate plot, and timeless exploration of themes like betrayal, revenge, and madness. While some readers find the Elizabethan language challenging and the pacing slow at times, the play remains a quintessential work of literature celebrated for its profound psychological depth and rich poetic language.
Who Should Read Hamlet?
Readers who enjoy Hamlet by William Shakespeare are typically fans of classic literature, complex character studies, and themes of existentialism and tragedy. Similar works include Macbeth and Othello by Shakespeare, and Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which also explore deep psychological conflicts and moral dilemmas.