Hamlet

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare (c. 1600)

"To be, or not to be, that is the question." The greatest play ever written. Prince Hamlet, commanded by his father's ghost to avenge his murder by his uncle Claudius, descends into madness — real or feigned — in literature's most profound exploration of death, conscience, and the human condition.

Historical Significance:
Shakespeare wrote Hamlet around 1600-1601, and it was first published in quarto form in 1603. It is the most performed, most studied, and most quoted play in the English language. Every generation finds new meaning in it: Romantic critics saw Hamlet as a sensitive intellectual; Freudians saw an Oedipus complex; existentialists saw the absurdity of action in a meaningless universe. The role of Hamlet is considered the ultimate test for an actor — virtually every great stage actor has played it. The play contains more famous quotations than any other single work of literature.

This public domain classic was originally written c. 1600. Free to read and share.