Book review on Shakespeare's Hamlet

In the book of Hamlet, written by English writer William Shakespeare. It is a story about Hamlet, the prince of Denmark returned back home due to his father, the King of Denmark, was dead. His uncle Claudius became the new King and marry to the old Queen. The old King became a ghost and told Hamlet the truth of his death and wanted Hamlet to take revenge on Claudius. 

                                A scene from Hamlet, the ghost is telling Hamlet about his murder (Act I Scene 4)

Hamlet started to act crazy and broke up with his girlfriend Ophelia to confirm that Claudius is the murderer. He confirmed that Claudius is the killer of his father; but he accidentally killed Ophelia's father Polonius. Claudius exiled Hamlet to go to England. At the meanwhile Ophelia suicide because of her father was killed by her lover Hamlet, and Hamlet was exiled.  When Hamlet sneak back to Denmark, he got challenged for a duel by Ophelia's brother Laertes. However, The king Claudius poison the weapon and Hamlet's drink. During the duel, Hamlet's mother, Claudius's wife accidentally drank the poisoned wine and dead. Both Laertes and Hamlet was injured by the poisoned weapon. At the last minute, Hamlet killed Claudius but he also about to die. At the end, he said: Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee. I am dead......Had I but time,--as this feel sergeant, death, Is strict in his arrest, --O! I could tell you-- But let it be. (Act V Scene 2 Line 336-342) This is a tragedy story that almost all of the characters have sad ending stories. However, each characters have dramatic life but the story is very realistic. We are expecting a hero to have a happy longline. But in Hamlet, he said: Let it be. It made the story more humane and it is a great work for Renaissance. 

                                        William Shakespeare (26 April 1564- 23 April 1616), Author of Hamlet

Hamlet said: "for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." (Act II Scene 2, Line 252-253). In this tragedy comedy wrote by William Shakespeare, I find no good or bad characters. Each characters in the book has their own life, good and bad, different readers has different views. For example, I find Claudius to be a Machiavellian ruler, even though he poisoned his brother to be the King of Denmark, and tried to kill his son in law. But he is an effective King. Hamlet is supposed to be a heroic character and revenge for his father, but he questioned about the identity of the ghost. He doesn't sound like conventionally heroic icon who are impulsive and kill the enemy right away. Before he confirmed that Claudius killed his father, he questioned the identity of the ghost, and he questioned if Claudius is really the killer. Thus, Hamlet has critical thinking and he wanted to confirm that Claudius really was the killer. Thus, he arranged the play to play the murder scene. He said: With most miraculous organ. I'' have these players play something like the murder of my father before mine uncle; I will observe his looks. I'll tent him to the quick; If he but blench I know my course. The spirit that I have seen May be the devil (Act II Scene 2 Line 599-605). Hamlet's thinking process indicates he is not a traditional idealistic hero. He is a man using reasonable thinking to confirm the fact. 

I would suggest other to read Hamlet. It has a lot of foils in the play. It is not a conventional heroic story and as an audience, the ending and the whole storyline is unpredictable. Also, Hamlet raised a lot of good philosophical questions. Especially when Hamlet had a chance to kill Claudius when Claudius is off guard, but he didn't because Claudius was praying. Hamlet asked himself: Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; and now I'll do 't: and so he goes to heaven; And so am I revenge'd. That would be scanned: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. (Act III Scene 3 Line 74-79). But the twist is that even Claudius prayed, but he still not regret what he did. He said: My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. (Act III Scene 3 Line 98). This book has so many twists, it is dramatic but also realistic. I would definitely recommend other to read it. 

Work Cite:

Shakespeare, William, et al. Cliffscomplete Shakespeare's Hamlet: Complete Text, Commentary, Glossary IDG Books, 2000.