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Hamlet

by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

  • Free to read
  • 2 hours to read
  • 21 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written between 1599 and 1601. Prince Hamlet of Denmark seeks revenge against his uncle Claudius, who murdered Hamlet's father to seize the throne and marry Hamlet's mother. When a ghost resembling the dead king reveals the truth of his murder, Hamlet vows vengeance but struggles with uncertainty and madness—both feigned and possibly real. As he orchestrates a play to expose Claudius's guilt, the prince navigates a treacherous court where loyalty is questionable and death looms.

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  • Tragedies (Drama)
  • Hamlet (Legendary character)
  • Kings and rulers · Succession
  • Murder victims' families
  • Fathers · Death
  • Revenge
  • Princes
  • Denmark

Read the opening

Scene I. — Elsinore: A Platform Before the Castle. Night: FRANCISCO on his post. Enter to him BERNARDO (L.H.)

Ber. Who's there?

Fran. (R.) Nay, answer me:[1] stand, and unfold[2] yourself.

Ber. Long live the king![3]

Fran. Bernardo?

Ber. He.

Keep reading Hamlet →

Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. Preface
  3. Scene I. — Elsinore: A Platform Before the Castle. Night: FRANCISCO on his post. Enter to him BERNARDO (L.H.)
  4. Scene II. — A Room of State in the Palace: Trumpet March
  5. Scene III. — A Room in Polonius's House: Enter Laertes and Ophelia (R.H.)
  6. Scene IV. — The Platform. Night: Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus (L.H.U.E.)
  7. Scene V. — A More Remote Part of the Platform. Night: Re-enter Ghost and HAMLET (L.H.U.E.)
  8. Act I
  9. Scene I. — A Room in Polonius's House: Enter POLONIUS[1] (L.H.), meeting Ophelia. (R.H.)
  10. Scene II. — A Room in the Castle
  11. Act II
  12. Scene I. — A Room in the Castle: Three chairs on L.H., one on R
  13. Scene II. — A Room in the Same: Enter King, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (R.H.)
  14. Scene III. — The Queen's Chamber: Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS (L.H.)
  15. Act III: [Footnote III.1: Forward] Disposed, inclinable.]
  16. Scene I. — A Room in the Castle: Enter KING and QUEEN, from (R.H.) centre
  17. Act IV: [Footnote IV.1: Translate:] Interpret.]
  18. Scene I. — A Church Yard: Enter two Clowns,[1] with spades, &c. (L.H.U.E.)
  19. Scene II. — Hall in the Castle: Enter HAMLET and HORATIO (R.H.)
  20. Scene III. — Room in the Castle
  21. Act V

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About this edition

This free edition of Hamlet by William Shakespeare comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #27761, released 2009-01-10. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Plays/Films/Dramas, Classics of Literature, British Literature.

Other editions: eBook #1524 (most read), eBook #1122, eBook #1787, eBook #2265, eBook #9077, eBook #10606.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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