Prince among the many celebrated texts that Shakespeare left us, is Hamlet; arguably the play, and the role most sought after by actors, for reason of its range, complexity and beauty, and its preeminent position in the world of the Stage.  One web site has made an excellent effort to make the intricacies of the play more understandable.  If you have any problems understanding what is happening check out the short course on Hamlet.

Be sure to read the play.  But be ready for the culture shock of Elizabethan English.  Most students will benefit immensely from seeing a performance of the work.  It will clarify some of the potential obscurities of the language.  For a very muscular (but compressed) version check out Mel Gibson's Hamlet, which is widely available at video stores but note that the Fortinbras sub-plot is missing from this shortened version, though it is excised very elegantly), and/or Kenneth Branagh's more recent version (available in both shortened and full-length versions).  If you get the chance try some of the earlier film adaptations of the play.  Laurence Olivier´s is a standard, and Derek Jacobi´s BBC version is excellent.

If you are inspired by Tragedy and wish to try a modern American version, click here for discussion of the popular (and easily accessible) "Death of a Salesman."  Feel free to make comparison with the tragic structure of "Hamlet."  How close are the two?