Reviews - Hamlet | The StoryGraph

2.18k reviews for:

Hamlet

Paul Werstine, William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare, Barbara A. Mowat

3.96 AVERAGE

gawa's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny

elysareadsitall's review against another edition

5.0

This edition of Hamlet was spectacular. I love these BBC performances.

kate_not_kate's review against another edition

3.5

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Horatio should’ve shut up and just kiss Hamlet instead of showing him a ghost. Intrigued by mention of violets and we still have 40 days till The fate of Ophelia is out

tieraisreading's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I’ve always enjoyed Hamlet. What really stands out to me is watching someone descend into madness, not just for its own sake, but because they’re so hell-bent on revenge they’re willing to sacrifice anything and everything. Even though Hamlet does avenge his father, it still feels like it was all for nothing.

Everyone ends up dead. The very goal he was chasing comes at the cost of everything he had.

And honestly, there’s still room for debate. Maybe Claudius never even murdered his father. Maybe Hamlet was just angry and grieving and spiraling because his mom married his uncle. Either way, that grief and frustration fuel a tragic downfall that makes this play so fascinating.

When you sit with the story, revenge, guilt, grief, and madness, and realize how determined Hamlet is in his self-destruction, it hits even harder. The Lion King might have borrowed from it, but Hamlet tells the story in a much deeper and darker way. It’s one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, and absolutely one I’d revisit again.

taious's review against another edition

4.0

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

_fitbrah_'s review against another edition

5.0

Classic. It's like listening to Bach in the sense that you always feel like you can come back to it and find something new. About the play. About yourself.

I can't believe it. Hamlet is literally me...