Wait a minute, explain!
Hamlet. Kind of an obvious choice, no? Perhaps it is, but that's because it's simply the best thing Shakespeare's written.
And why is that? Hamlet is an amazing play because it incorporates such a large spectrum of human emotion. There's the obvious conflict with some very touching, dramatic scenes. There are also scenes that are simply hilarious, and then there are those that touch upon the deeper philosophy of life and existence.
Which scenes are those? Two of the most heartbreaking moments to me are Hamlet's first soliloquy and the closet scene. The funniest to me would be Hamlet's apprehension after the murder, but there are many other scenes that make me laugh. (I'm not joking. People think I'm weird because of how much this play makes me laugh.) If you're looking for something more philosophical the obvious choice I suppose is always To be, or not to be.
But he just doesn't stop talking... The soliloquies really aren't that long, and once you start listening to the ideas presented you'll notice that they are actually quite compact considering the difficult questions they raise and attempt to answer. The play itself, indeed, is very long, but it's usually shortened for stage performances and movies.
Okay, and which soliloquy is the best? This is a difficult question. I keep changing my mind about this, so if you ask me again next week you might get a different answer. I do love the first soliloquy with all its heartache, and I think it is a wonderful way to introduce Hamlet, the character.
And is he the best character? Yes; yes, he is. Hamlet is funny. He's flawed. He's smart, yet he keeps making mistakes. However, there are many interesting characters. I have a bit of a soft spot for Horatio, too.
Okay, fine. Now, if I'm going to watch Hamlet, which version should I choose? This, too, is incredibly hard to answer, and it depends on your own tastes and preferences. My favourite version is Kenneth Branagh's, but be advised that it uses the entire text and is known as the "Eternity Version". Laurence Olivier is fantastic, and as a more recent Hamlet I enjoyed David Tennant very much (although even To be, or not to be is shortened in this version).
No, no, no. I disagree. Let's talk about this. Yes, let's! If you want to chat about Hamlet (because really, who doesn't?), feel free to email me!
The Witching Time of Night: The fanlisting for Hamlet. No copyright infringement intended. All images © to their respective owners. This is merely a non-profit fan effort. Contact.