Z PDF
Sign in
Home / Books / Hamlet
Your download link has expired — please click the download button again.

Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Share:
Language
EN
Format
EPUB
Size
347 KB

Description

Hamlet centers on the prince of Denmark, who is confronted with the sudden death of his father, King Hamlet, and his mother's quick remarriage to Claudius, the late king's brother. As Prince Hamlet contemplates the circumstances surrounding his father’s demise, he encounters the ghost of the deceased king, who reveals that he was murdered. This revelation prompts Hamlet to seek revenge, leading to a series of complex actions marked by indecision, feigned madness, and political intrigue within the Danish court. The play examines themes of death, betrayal, action, and the ambiguity of human motives, set against a backdrop of late Elizabethan social and political tensions.

Written between 1599 and 1601, "Hamlet" is classified as a tragedy and is considered one of William Shakespeare’s most significant works. Its structure combines poetic dialogue with soliloquies that reflect the protagonist's inner conflicts. The narrative explores the moral ambiguities of revenge and the nature of human existence, establishing its enduring relevance through its rich characterisation and profound philosophical questions.

From the opening pages

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and Attendants SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the Castle. Enter Francisco and Barnardo , two sentinels. BARNARDO. Who’s there? FRANCISCO. Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself. BARNARDO. Long live the King! FRANCISCO. Barnardo? BARNARDO. He. FRANCISCO. You come most carefully upon your hour. BARNARDO. ’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco. FRANCISCO. For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. BARNARDO. Have you had quiet guard? FRANCISCO. Not a mouse stirring. BARNARDO. Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Enter Horatio and Marcellus . FRANCISCO. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there? HORATIO. Friends to this ground. MARCELLUS. And liegemen to the Dane. FRANCISCO. Give you good night. MARCELLUS. O, farewell, honest soldier, who hath reliev’d you? FRANCISCO. Barnardo has my place. Give you good-night. [ Exit. ] MARCELLUS. Holla, Barnardo! BARNARDO. Say, what, is Horatio there? HORATIO. A piece of him. BARNARDO. Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus. MARCELLUS. What, has this thing appear’d again tonight? BARNARDO. I have seen nothing. MARCELLUS. Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us. Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes of this night, That if again this apparition come He may approve our eyes and speak to it. HORATIO. Tush, tush, ’twill not appear. BARNARDO. Sit down awhile, And let us once again assail your ears, That are so fortified against our story, What we two nights have seen. HORATIO. Well, sit we down, And let us hear Barnardo speak of this. BARNARDO. Last night of all, When yond same star that’s westward from the pole, Had made his course t’illume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell then beating one— MARCELLUS. Peace, break thee off. Look where it comes again. Enter Ghost . BARNARDO. In the same figure, like the King that’s dead. MARCELLUS. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. BARNARDO. Looks it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio. HORATIO. Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder. BARNARDO It would be spoke to. MARCELLUS. Question it, Horatio. HORATIO. What art thou that usurp’st this time of night, Together with that…

FAQ

Is "Hamlet" free to download?

Yes, it is free to download — no sign up needed.

What format is the file?

EPUB.

More by William Shakespeare

Similar books

Reader reviews Be the first

No reviews yet. Be the first to review this book.

Write a review

Protected by reCAPTCHA.