HamletTo be, or not to be-that is the question. Perhaps Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, Hamlet is a masterpiece of Elizabethan theater. In this classic, the Prince of Denmark is torn by the choices he must make to revenge the murder of his father, who has returned to him as a ghost. By emphasizing the emotional and moral dilemma facing the introspective Hamlet, Shakespeare elevates the drama above a simple revenge story. The themes of this brilliant work-those of love, family, betrayal, madness, and death-have continued to resonate with audiences throughout the centuries. This beautifully repackaged Signet Classic edition includes an extensive overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater, along with a special introduction to the play, a note on the three early texts, and sources from which the character of Hamlet was derived. Also included are dramatic criticism from the past and present, a comprehensive stage and screen history of notable productions, an up-to-date list of recommended readings, and a DVD of the BBC adaptation. DVD INCLUDES: The BBC Television Shakespeare production of Hamlet, starring Patrick Stewart and Tony Award winner Derek Jacobi. |
Contents
An Overview | vii |
Introduction | lxiii |
A Note on the Texts of Hamlet | 145 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
A. C. Bradley action actors Antonio's Revenge audience avenger Barnardo blood called character Claudius Claudius's Clown costumes dead dear death Denmark doth editors Elizabethan Exeunt Exit eyes father Folio follow Fortinbras foul Gertrude ghost give grave grief hast hath hear heart heaven Hecuba hero Horatio instance is't killed King Lear King's Laertes lines look Macbeth madness manuscript Marcellus married matter means melancholy mind mother murder nature night noble numbers Ophelia Osric Othello passage passion performed perhaps players poison Polonius pray Priam Prince production prose Pyrrhus Q2 omits Quarto Queen question revenge Reynaldo role Romeo and Juliet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern scene seems sense Shake Shakespeare Shakespeare's plays soliloquy soul Spanish Tragedy speak speare's speech stage direction Stratford sweet tell theater theatrical thee thing thou thought tion tragedy Ur-Hamlet William Shakespeare words