Hamlet

About

Written by William Shakespeare between 1599 and 1601, Hamlet is a tragedy set in Denmark that stands as Shakespeare's longest play. The work depicts Prince Hamlet as he attempts to exact revenge against his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father to seize his throne and marry Hamlet's mother. The play is considered among the most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language, with a story capable of seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest plays of all time. Three different early versions of the play survive: the First Quarto from 1603, the Second Quarto from 1604, and the First Folio from 1623. Each version contains lines and passages that differ from the others. Scholars have identified many possible sources for Shakespeare's play, ranging from ancient Greek tragedies to Elizabethan dramas that may have influenced its creation.