48 pages • 1 hour read
Hamlet
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
289
Play • Fiction
Elsinore, Denmark • Medieval
1609
Adult
15-18 years
Super Short Summary
In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Prince Hamlet of Denmark is urged by the ghost of his deceased father to avenge his murder by killing his uncle Claudius, who has since married Hamlet's mother and claimed the throne. Hamlet feigns madness to uncover the truth, leading to a chain of events filled with intrigue, betrayal, and tragedy. Topics of murder and mental health struggles are present in the play.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Dark
Contemplative
Suspenseful
Reviews & Readership
991,003 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
William Shakespeare's Hamlet is widely praised for its complex characters, intricate plot, and timeless exploration of themes like betrayal, revenge, and madness. While some readers find the Elizabethan language challenging and the pacing slow at times, the play remains a quintessential work of literature celebrated for its profound psychological depth and rich poetic language.
Who Should Read Hamlet?
Readers who enjoy Hamlet by William Shakespeare are typically fans of classic literature, complex character studies, and themes of existentialism and tragedy. Similar works include Macbeth and Othello by Shakespeare, and Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which also explore deep psychological conflicts and moral dilemmas.
991,003 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
289
Play • Fiction
Elsinore, Denmark • Medieval
1609
Adult
15-18 years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.