| | '''''Hamlet''''' is a revenge [[tragedy]] by [[William Shakespeare]]. Written between 1599–1601, it is Shakespeare's longest and most famous play, and possibly one of the most famous works in the English language. The main themes are procrastination, deterioration, incest, revenge, madness, homicide, [[abortion]], temptation and the loss of innocence, and suicide. Despite the grim topic, ''Hamlet'' contains much humor. | | '''''Hamlet''''' is a revenge [[tragedy]] by [[William Shakespeare]]. Written between 1599–1601, it is Shakespeare's longest and most famous play, and possibly one of the most famous works in the English language. The main themes are procrastination, deterioration, incest, revenge, madness, homicide, [[abortion]], temptation and the loss of innocence, and suicide. Despite the grim topic, ''Hamlet'' contains much humor. |
| − | If Hamlet is partly autobiographical, then [[Shakespeare]] was [[heterosexual]] but aware of attraction by [[homosexual]]s in [[theater]] to him. | + | If Hamlet is partly autobiographical, then [[Shakespeare]] was [[heterosexual]] but aware of attraction by [[homosexual]]s in the [[theater]] profession to him. |
| | Its "reputation is so towering" that one commentator describes Hamlet as "a pretty hot contender for the greatest thing ever written in English."<ref>https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-ten-best-shakespeare-plays-of-all-time</ref> Hamlet inspired much in modern culture, including [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[North by Northwest]]'', which takes its title from a line in Hamlet. | | Its "reputation is so towering" that one commentator describes Hamlet as "a pretty hot contender for the greatest thing ever written in English."<ref>https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-ten-best-shakespeare-plays-of-all-time</ref> Hamlet inspired much in modern culture, including [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[North by Northwest]]'', which takes its title from a line in Hamlet. |