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 - Best Shakespearen Play Ever!Hamlet is a must read...end of review. No, seriously who can't pass up... "to be or not to be that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outragous fortune or to take on a sea of troubles and by opposing end them. To die to sleep..." You'll have to read the play to find out the rest. Rating: - Hamlet over Macbeth; Folgers over FreeDespite its antiquated setting, Hamlet speaks to the average individual in ways that Julius Caesar or Macbeth do not, although they are obviously very worthy in different ways. Further, if you are a teacher of students disenfranchised in some way, this can be a very liberating text--not because of the literal plot, but due to the rich discussions that it provokes around how *not* to end up like either a modern Ophelia or Hamlet. Frankly, I am mystified why Macbeth is the traditional choice in Senior-level textbooks, since Hamlet has proven to be so much more interesting to young adults in my six years of HS teaching. Free or extremely inexpensive texts are available on-line; however, I have found the Folger edition particularly useful in helping my students (and myself) appreciate the finer points. For example, it's fun to see the meanings behind the flowers that crazy Ophelia hands out, which Folger explains while others don't. Too, do *you* know what a petard is, even though you've likely been hoisted on your own? Folgers does! Rating: - Contemporary Relevance in a Four Hundred Year Old PlayWhatever your reason for picking up this book, or for wanting to re-familiarize yourself with it, you cannot help but be amazed at the contemporary relevance of a play penned with a goose quill by the light of candles four hundred years ago. Reading the text in its original language adds a special thrill. Shakespeare illustrates with dexterity and economy how our language can be employed to convey thought and action with precision, beauty, humor, and multi-layered meaning. You will see much that is familiar in Hamlet, because many lines have entered our contemporary usage: Neither a borrower or a lender be... To thine own self be true... A custom more honored in the breach than the observance Something is rotten in the state of Denmark Though this be madness, yet there is method in `t. To be or not to be... The lady doth protest too much... Brevity is the soul of wit. I must be cruel only to be kind. ...Hoist with his own petard ...the dog will have his day Good night, sweet prince... Even the time-honored concept of "innocent by reason of insanity" is one invented by Hamlet, in defense of his murder of Polonius, and it is now a cottage industry among trial lawyers. It's a living play, and your fresh eyes will read fresh meaning into every line of it. Rating: - My Favorite of All of ShakespeareThis drama is my favorite of all of Shakespeare's plays. I love Shakespeare's humor, and I actually have found myself literally laughing out loud at the wry humor of the main character Hamlet. But, I'm not a person who usually enjoys books that fall into the "classics" genre. So that just shows how fantastic this drama is. Once you get used to the language, this is a quick read that is very enjoyable and I find myself going back to over an over. Shakespeare was a genius playwright! Rating:  - One of the greatest Shakespeare worksThis version of Hamlet was a great read. Shakespeare's works can be difficult to understand, but this text was an easier read. The notes that were placed on the pages facing the text were very helpful, especially if I had difficulty understanding some of the language. I also thought the background on Shakespeare's life and the introduction to his language was also helpful in reading Hamlet. This text left me with many thoughts regarding certain aspects of the play. For example, the big question, was Hamlet insane? I do not think Hamlet was insane, in fact, I feel that his anger toward Claudius and his mother were justified. I highly recommend this William Shakespeare book.
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