Reviews

Hamlet / Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare

roeckitcody's review against another edition

4.0

maybe I will write a full review eventually? or a mini one. I quite enjoyed this.

phoberries's review against another edition

when i thought "to be or not to be" was some great philosophical question (which it is) but in the context of the play it's just hamlet contemplating whether or not to kill himself... real

mquinlan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

5.0

Hamlet was the first Shakespeare I read that caused Shakespeare to “click” for me. I’ll never forget the feeling of reading this in 12th grade and the excitement I felt from “getting it.” However, this momentum was immediately lost because I was no longer an avid reader like I had been in the past. 

Fast forward almost 10 years, I’m back into reading and have been hitting a lot of classics. Hamlet was always in the back of my mind as the first classic I would revisit, especially after seeing The Northman and Hamlet (1948). But at the same time, I was a bit nervous it wouldn’t live up to the way I had remembered and my incessant rambling about Hamlet for the last 10 years wouldn’t feel justified. 

But it is justified. Hamlet is certainly my favorite Shakespeare, and might just be my favorite story ever told

rachelcox's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

inas_abdellateef99's review against another edition

5.0

قَتْل الأخ ما أشقهُ على النفس. أودُّ لو أصلي وأستغفر ربي لكنني لا
أستطيع. غلب إثمي على رغبتي في التوبة، ألا توجدُ في رحمة السماء مياهٌ كافيةٌ لتطهرَ
يدي مما عَلِقَ بها من دم أخي؟ ما معنى الرحمة إذا لم تملك الوقوف في وجه الحقيقة،
فتردَّنَا عن الشرإن نوينا، وتُقِيلنَا منه إن عَثَرنا؟ … أي الأدْعِيَةِ يتقبله لله في مثل حالتي؟
أيعتد سبحانه بتوبتي وأنا مُصِرٌّعلى جريرتي؟ محتفظٌ بتاجي وامرأتي، وهما سَلَبي من
أخي؟ في هذا العالم الفاسد قد يُتقى العدلُ بزخْرُفِ القول، ويستخدمُ ما نُهبَ في الكَفَّارة
عن ذنب الذي نهب، أمَّا بين يدي لله فلا تُجْدِي الحيلةُ ولا المُغَالطة، ولا يلقى الإنسان
إِلاصريح عمله. ويلي من شقي …

تحفة فنية ندمت كتير اني أجلت قراءتها

rena_rena's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

reader567's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

yaredz's review against another edition

5.0

I have no idea how it's possible to write this well, and I've probably only scratched the surface of this play. There are somehow both literal and figurative plays within the play (see the Murder of Gonzago and Hamlet playing literally everyone else, especially when running circles around Polonius). It's also an existentialist play, with Hamlet ruminating on life, death, destiny, and the nature of human existence. I'm genuinely at awe at how one play can be so witty, funny, complex, and exciting all at once, all while pushing the English language to its absolute limits. Hamlet is, I think, beyond genius.

mrsrccockrell's review against another edition

I've never liked Shakespeare. Sue me.

raeding's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There is a reason that so many Shakespeare plays have stood the test of time. Hamlet is a true estimate to his skill and to his love of the art, filled with soliloquies and monologues. Plays are a work of art and Shakespeare is a master at it.