To be, or not to be . . . what was the question again?

Hamlet, one the most renowned Shakespearean tragedies, bane of high school students everywhere, and delight of ardent bibliophiles, follows Shakespeare’s usual tragic formula. There are ample opportunities for betrayal, miscommunication, rumination, chaotic love affairs, and loads of flowery Old English. The master of the English language, Shakespeare weaves plots like most people make tapestries, adding a dash of this and a smidgen of that, interweaving diverse elements to create a complex and pleasing display that has endured the ages. Such a masterpiece of word craft is Hamlet. One of Shakespeare’s finest tragedies and one of my personal favorites, Hamlet develops and explores a complex cast of individuals, insightfully investigating the meaning of action and what it truly means to be or not to be, to act or not to act. Elegant, forever memorable, enchanting, and deeply contemplative, there is a reason that Hamlet has retained its deep human connection, even to this day.

The plot is deceptively simple. Hamlet’s father (also named Hamlet – yes, it’s confusing) has recently died and Hamlet’s mother, the forever passive Gertrude, has instantly remarried her husband’s brother, the King of Denmark, thus the statement that there is something rotten in Denmark. When Hamlet’s father’s ghost rises from his troubled grave and reveals that his treacherous brother was also his executioner and the seducer of his wife, the plot begins to dramatically unravel along with Hamlet’s sanity. Should he believe this imposing specter from beyond? Should he seek proof, a confrontation with Claudius (the King of Denmark), a confrontation with his mother, or should he play God and rise to the moment, enacting vengeance as repayment for fratricide? Of course, in the world of Shakespeare, moral dilemmas are not easily solved and Hamlet must war with his internal self to seek the answer to the solution and the meaning behind the rank, un-weeded garden of life. Decisions, decisions . . .

Although, Hamlet, like all Shakespearian plays, was intended for the stage, readers will find that the depth of meaning and empathy with the human condition is not lost through a simple reading. Of course, modern readers will be somewhat put off by the antiquated language and those unfamiliar with Shakespeare will probably find Hamlet a difficult introduction. Popular cultural references of the time, as well as word play, will be lost on modern audiences and sometimes the language and witticisms between characters, especially when arguing, can easily make even the most perceptive reader glaze over. Let’s face it, Shakespeare is intimidating and Hamlet is one of his trickier pieces but, never fear, it is most certainly worth the effort. The beauty of the language and the manner in which Shakespeare can easily sum up universal concepts in a few eloquent, deep sentences makes the difficult passages more than worth the effort. Don’t be put off by the great age of the text, the meaning and effective plumbing of emotional depths makes Hamlet a must for all time periods and all ages. There is a reason that it has been beloved by many for centuries.

Once readers have moved past the antique language, the plot gets kicking. Hamlet is two pronged. On a shallow level readers are presented with a thriller atmosphere as a dark, gothic tone paints a picture of Hamlet’s gradual degeneration and almost obsessive/compulsive fixation of puzzling out whether action or inaction would be best. On a secondary level, Hamlet represents several sides of a moral dilemma and the representation of passive female figures of the time. Of course, this is only one school of interpretation on Hamlet (and yes, I took a class on this.) The second school of thought, which I personally find more convincing and better upheld by the text, is that Hamlet is a representation of suicide ideation. Either way, Hamlet is a very depressing tragedy that reveals the weakness of fallible humanity, the catastrophes of miscommunication, and the effects, whether good or evil, of action. The corruption of court life, the passive acquiescence of weak willed females to the demands of strong willed, evil men, and the altruistic nature of Hamlet’s desire to do whatever is right – all these expertly portrayed elements coalesce to create a stellar plot, a conclusion filled with dead hopes and dead bodies, and great deals of insight into numerous facets of the human condition.

Despite the play aspect, Shakespeare relies on mostly internal stage directions and readers will find that because of this his plays have a tendency to read more like novels. Hamlet, being the main star, is the focal point of characterization and his interpretation of other characters serves to paint their personalities. Hamlet is depicted as a sensitive hero but, he is also a character that readers throughout the centuries have wanted to give a good swift kick too. Why? Because, if Hamlet were a contemporary of modern audiences, he would undoubtedly be a whiney goth teen. Even my English professor noted this, a statement which has lingered in my memory like only a well stated truth can. And, indeed, Hamlet does have his annoying, whiney side. The entirety of the play is devoted to his mental quagmire as he slowly puzzles out what his best course of action is and whether or not he should be or not be. His suicide ideation and representation of life as a slough of desolation makes for some dark reading and while readers will be hooked on the beauty of Shakespeare’s writing and the timeless quality of his ponderings, Hamlet’s constant inactivity and mental spins make him a protagonist that the readers love, yet find exceedingly annoying. It’s not a true con . . . but it almost achieves the negative state.

Overall, Hamlet is one of my favorite works by Shakespeare, master of the dramatic muse. Bibliophiles should not deny themselves the pleasure of reading Shakespeare and despite some difficult sections, Hamlet is more than worth the effort. Segments of infinitely quotable text and soul touching soliloquies will make Hamlet an enjoyable play that, once read, will forever remain a part of the lucky reader’s soul. A must read recommended for all ages. The sooner you get started on Shakespeare, the sooner you will become addicted and once addicted, always addicted. Unequivocally recommended.

A Note on Edition: The edition that I have is the original unabridged text included in The Riverside Shakespeare, a colossal hardcover edition that doubles as a Shakespeare anthology and a deadly weapon. The great thing about this edition is that it is unabridged and contains most of Shakespeare’s works including all of his plays and poems. The bad thing about this edition is that footnotes are almost nil and so deciphering perplexing passages and unknown vocabulary is entirely up to the dedicated and patient reader. Otherwise, the print is minuscule, but readable and while the book weighs a metric ton, it is a great and inexpensive way to get a lot of Shakespeare’s works instantly while also removing several enemies.


Countess_Eva