Review by paninigoweenie - Hamlet by William Shakespeare

paninigoweenie 's review for:

Hamlet by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare, Lucky Illustrator

3.0

dark funny reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

To love this play, or to not love this play, that is the question.

The first act of this play was so riveting, I predicted it to be a five-star read. I should obviously not establish such fervent preconceptions about a piece of literature, as I believe my initial expectations dimmed the reality of this play. I know this is the favorite play of many readers, which also made my reading experience lackluster, as I felt I was missing something integral about the work. But after reflecting on the plot structure and characters, I truly don’t think this play is for me.

For one, the plot felt awkward. There was great potential with the nearing forces of Norway, and yet, nothing of worth was done with the concept of war or the taking of land. Additionally, the most disappointing part of this play for me was the one-dimensional nature of the ghost. Sure, he led Hamlet into a state of narrowed revenge, but apart from that, he didn’t have a compelling enough appearance that I would deem “iconic” or even noteworthy.

I wish Fortinbras’ character was also more developed, but I did enjoy the conflict between Hamlet and Laertes, as well as the pitiful drama between Hamlet and Ophelia. The ending was slightly predictable, and again, I wish the ghost played a larger role in the conclusion.

I found a beautiful quote stated by Claudius in reading this play, which significantly contributed to my rating:

“But that I know love is begun by time, And that I see, in passages of proof, Time qualifies the spark and fire of it. There lives within the very flame of love A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it; And nothing is at a like goodness still, For goodness, growing to a pleurisy, Dies in his own too much.”

Love, in the end, destroys most fates.

Content Warnings