lifelongday's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
becky_efc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 STARS
"Undoubtedly the most famous of all of Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet remains one of the most enduring but also enigmatic pieces of western literature. The story of Hamlet, the young Prince of Denmark, his tortured relationship with his mother, and his quest to avenge his father's murder at the hand of his brother Claudius has fascinated writers and audiences ever since it was written around 1600.
For many years interest focused on both Hamlet's inability to avenge his father's death, claiming that "the native hue of resolution / Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought", and, according to none other than Freud, his oedipal fixation with his mother. However, more recently critics have turned their attention to Hamlet's bold theatrical self-reflexivity (most famously reflected in the performance of "The Mousetrap"), its fascination with issues of theology and Renaissance humanism, and its dense, complex poetic language. What is so remarkable about the play is the way in which it tends to uncannily reflect the concerns of different epochs. As a result, Hamlet has been at different moments defined as a romantic rebel, an angst-ridden existentialist, a paralysed intellectual and an ambivalent New Man. Whatever subsequent generations make of Hamlet, they are unlikely to exhaust the possibilities of this most extraordinary play." (From Amazon)
Another dramatic play by Shakespeare but I find that the more I read/see it I feel more depressed, lol.
"Undoubtedly the most famous of all of Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet remains one of the most enduring but also enigmatic pieces of western literature. The story of Hamlet, the young Prince of Denmark, his tortured relationship with his mother, and his quest to avenge his father's murder at the hand of his brother Claudius has fascinated writers and audiences ever since it was written around 1600.
For many years interest focused on both Hamlet's inability to avenge his father's death, claiming that "the native hue of resolution / Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought", and, according to none other than Freud, his oedipal fixation with his mother. However, more recently critics have turned their attention to Hamlet's bold theatrical self-reflexivity (most famously reflected in the performance of "The Mousetrap"), its fascination with issues of theology and Renaissance humanism, and its dense, complex poetic language. What is so remarkable about the play is the way in which it tends to uncannily reflect the concerns of different epochs. As a result, Hamlet has been at different moments defined as a romantic rebel, an angst-ridden existentialist, a paralysed intellectual and an ambivalent New Man. Whatever subsequent generations make of Hamlet, they are unlikely to exhaust the possibilities of this most extraordinary play." (From Amazon)
Another dramatic play by Shakespeare but I find that the more I read/see it I feel more depressed, lol.
log_laady's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beforeviolets's review against another edition
there are many pieces of media that throughout my life have shaped me greatly. but none so much as hamlet.
estefizaga's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
v_larr's review against another edition
4.0
UPDATE AUGUST 2023: Yep, I enjoyed this a lot more when I was able to read the whole thing and not skip scenes bc of COVID classes.
Idc this play is a comedy. Hamlet is such a pathetic (affectionate) person, but it’s so interesting to see his thought process. Maybe if he just did things rather than thought about them, a lot of this could’ve been avoided.
I’m mostly heartbroken for Ophelia.
Laertes was super interesting in his parallels to Hamlet.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still the funniest names ever. They sucked though. I loved when Hamlet was a dick to them. Bro was fully like “play this flute. Oh, you cant? yet you thought you could play ME, bitch.” Or when he called them sponges! LOL.
Claudius is AWFUL. What a manipulative bastard. He deserved a worse death but anyways.
—————————————————————
I had to read this for English class basically reading along while watching a recording of it. It’s okay, with the whole COVID thing and messed up schedule we haven’t been able to dissect it as much as we normally would. But here’s what I like so far:
The soliloquies are really great. Finally FINALLY I’m able to read and actually understand the famous “To be or not to be” speech. I like Hamlet, he’s a fun fella, probably could’ve dealt with some things better though. Poor Ophelia, this girl’s just been strung along in a bunch of men’s messes and for what???? Poor girl couldn’t catch a break. I like how there are a lot of fun lines in this play, despite being a tragedy there’s quite a bit of humour which I enjoyed. Where the HECK did the pirates even come from. I’m not gonna do a super long review of this because again we haven’t dissected it as much as I wish we could’ve so this is just what I took at first glance.
Idc this play is a comedy. Hamlet is such a pathetic (affectionate) person, but it’s so interesting to see his thought process. Maybe if he just did things rather than thought about them, a lot of this could’ve been avoided.
I’m mostly heartbroken for Ophelia.
Laertes was super interesting in his parallels to Hamlet.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still the funniest names ever. They sucked though. I loved when Hamlet was a dick to them. Bro was fully like “play this flute. Oh, you cant? yet you thought you could play ME, bitch.” Or when he called them sponges! LOL.
Claudius is AWFUL. What a manipulative bastard. He deserved a worse death but anyways.
—————————————————————
I had to read this for English class basically reading along while watching a recording of it. It’s okay, with the whole COVID thing and messed up schedule we haven’t been able to dissect it as much as we normally would. But here’s what I like so far:
The soliloquies are really great. Finally FINALLY I’m able to read and actually understand the famous “To be or not to be” speech. I like Hamlet, he’s a fun fella, probably could’ve dealt with some things better though. Poor Ophelia, this girl’s just been strung along in a bunch of men’s messes and for what???? Poor girl couldn’t catch a break. I like how there are a lot of fun lines in this play, despite being a tragedy there’s quite a bit of humour which I enjoyed. Where the HECK did the pirates even come from. I’m not gonna do a super long review of this because again we haven’t dissected it as much as I wish we could’ve so this is just what I took at first glance.
julietteasm's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mis_evaluate's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5