Book List: "Hamlet"

This is the first time I've read Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet! I've always been unusually fond of old-fashioned language, although it's dense and difficult to wade through at times. Thankfully, I have Librivox to read it out loud to me, which makes it much easier. Shakespeare wrote plays, not novels, and he designed his texts to be read aloud. By listening to the play or audiobook, you get a sense of the rhythm he used.


This play is about the prince of Denmark, Hamlet. He has recently lost his father, the king, and is dealing with his death. Of course, it doesn't help that his mother has quickly remarried his uncle, the new king. He finds out that his uncle has actually assassinated his father from his father's ghost that appears at beginning of the story.

The story itself is told well; all the characters are intertwined and their relationships are complicated. Of course, it is a tragedy and everyone dies in the end! But I do love discovering the motives behind every person's death. Envy, overtaking power, young love, suicide, etc., all play a part in the story. Ophelia, Hamlet's romantic interest, is tightly wrapped in the story as well, and is a flighty character. All of the characters, really, are emotionally unstable and a little crazy.

The language of Shakespeare is my favorite part. He includes comedic lines and dramatic lines, and beautiful rhythm and monologues. He is inspiring as a writer-- making up words to fit his needs, and making storytelling truly an artform.