“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
The agony of modern man trying to correct a distorted era

“There is no hero of our time better than Hamlet.”_[New York Times]
"The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time" _[Guardian]
"The greatest masterpiece of all time" _[Newsweek]

Hamlet, the masterpiece of Shakespeare's four major tragedies

Most readers evaluate Hamlet as a tragedy of reflection and indecision, and some argue that the main character, Prince Hamlet, is the epitome of an indecisive character.
Even the 19th-century critic William Hazlitt described Hamlet as a "prince of philosophical thought" whose actions were paralyzed.
However, Hamlet was not a typical indecisive character, but rather a modern character who thought and judged rationally.
The reason Hamlet kept postponing direct revenge on his uncle who killed his father was because he did not view the problem of 'revenge' as that simple.
At that time, Denmark was in a state of collapse of its central order.
This is revealed in the work as the distinction between the uncle, the mother who remarried the uncle, and the family that was broken because of it (uncle and father, mother and aunt, nephew and son).


Hamlet realizes that he stands alone in this dizzying society.
In this polluted and corrupt society, Hamlet was unable to figure out or decide how he should act, or whether he should act at all, or what 'acting' even meant.
This aspect of Hamlet does not reveal a weak or indecisive personality, but rather shows that he was a rational modern man who thought, chose, and acted independently.
Let's meet Hamlet, who has been re-evaluated as a rational figure from a symbol of indecision, through the original first edition cover design of The Story.

No, it's not Hamlet, Horatio.
I swear by St. Patrick's Day, there it is.
That ghost was an honest ghost.
I can only say this.
I'd like to know what happened, but please cover it up.
Now, my friends, as a friend, as a scholar, and as a soldier, please listen to me.
Horatio: What is it, Prince? Of course.
Hamlet: Never speak of what you saw tonight.
Horatio, Marcellus, I will never give you up, Prince.
--- From "Act 1, Scene 5"

Laertes The culprit is here, Prince Hamlet.
The prince will soon lose his life.
No medicine in this world will work.
There's about half an hour left now.
The instrument of rebellion is in the prince's hands.
The tip of the sword is sharp and coated with poison.
This plot has been turned against me.
Look.
I can never get up again.
The queen was poisoned, and I can no longer do anything? It's the king's doing.
Hamlet, poison on the tip of your sword? Then, poison, do your part.
(stabs the king)
It's treason, treason!
Oh, King, listen here.
Protect me.
My wounds are still minor.
Hamlet Now, you lecherous and cruel murderer, you accursed king of Denmark.
Drink this poison.

--- From "Act 5, Scene 2"