This link takes you to the main website offering, the complete playtext of the Shakespeare play Hamlet. The original playtext is fully modernized. Each Scene has a full-text gloss in the form of a "simplified modern English" (smE) translation that is displayed side-by-side on the same page with the original language. Each Scene is accompanied by the most detailed, thorough, and comprehensive explanatory Notes that have ever been written for Hamlet.

Essays on the following topics are due for inclusion either at the "Incidentals" link, or on their own pages, but are not done, yet, so these are not active links at this time.

Amleth;
the Bible, in relation to Hamlet;
Chaucer, in relation to Hamlet;
Emblem Books;
the Folklore of Flowers;
the Great Vowel Shift;
the Hawk and the Handsaw;
Holy Cards;
the Danish King Tapestries;
the Little Ice Age;
Purgatory;
Ralph Roister Doister;
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles;
Wittenberg.

(Regained)

This website offers the best presentation available for the Shakespeare play Hamlet in literature form.

Hamlet (Regained) provides you with the true and correct Shakespeare's Hamlet in its Original Language (modernized,) and as a special feature, the Original version is presented side-by-side with a "simplified modern English" (smE) translation of the play, that serves as a full-text gloss.

There's no need to look up words in a separate glossary as you read Hamlet (Regained) because you'll have the modern equivalent for every line, every speech, and every passage, on the same page as the Original. Simply look across the page to see the basic meaning of the play in modern wording.

Hamlet is a highly complex play - possibly the most complex writing in all of literature - and a modern English translation is not enough to convey the full meaning of it. The smE gives only a "plain reading," and cannot capture the great depth of the original. So, in addition, the Hamlet (Regained) playscript is supplemented with thousands of paragraphs of explanatory Notes, to provide the reader with a full appreciation of the play. You'll be amazed at what's in Hamlet that you've never heard about, have never read anyplace else, and didn't know was there.

Use the "Playscript" link at the left, and you'll enter the world of the most remarkable play in the history of literature.

A detailed presentation of the Hamlet "Dramatis Personae," or in other words, the list of characters in the play, is available. All of the major and minor characters are listed, with descriptions of who they are, and their parts in the play. For the major characters, some commentary about their personalities is included. The origin of character names is given where that can be surmised.

A "Timeline and Walk-through" is available. This lists significant events, and when they happen. A surprising fact comes to light: the notorious long delay by Hamlet does not really exist in the play!

Look at the Timeline, by clicking the link in the column to the left, and see for yourself.

A Hamlet (Regained) FAQ page lists some questions about the play, along with brief, factual answers.

A detailed "Synopsis" of the play is now available, for those who want an especially quick overview, although a mere synopsis does not do the play justice.

A prose "Narrative" is provided as a supplement to the playtext, (not a replacement for it.) The Narrative is a detailed description of the events, in ordinary prose. The purpose is to assist readers in understanding the action of the play, without the difficulties of the poetic dialogue, which is an obstacle for some readers.

A page listing the "Figures" mentioned in the Hamlet playtext is available, with brief descriptions of them, for the assistance of readers unfamiliar with them. These are not the play characters, but instead are historical, legendary, or mythical figures, such as Julius Caesar, Neptune, Niobe, Hyperion, etc.

The First Folio and Second Quarto versions of Hamlet differ in many details. I offer analysis of some of the differences on the "Folio Differences" page. The goal is to decide which wording, the Second Quarto's or the First Folio's, should be used in a modern playtext.

A page concerning the date of Hamlet is linked in the left column (and here.)

Shakespeare wrote Sonnets about Ophelia. Sonnet number 99 is "Ophelia's Flowers Sonnet," and number 70 is "Ophelia's Love Sonnet." The "Ophelia Sonnets" page will show you those sonnets, and explain what they mean.

The author of Hamlet apparently had some decks of tarot cards, that he used as illustrations for certain passages, and to symbolize the play characters. The "Tarot Cards" page provides some card images, and descriptions of their significance. You'll need good familiarity with the play before the tarot images and the discussion will mean much to you. (This is not about the fortune-telling use of tarot cards. Tarot began as a popular card game similar to bridge. The tarot allusions mean Shakespeare may have played tarot as a pastime. It would be like a person being a bridge player nowadays.)

If you'd like to know how Fortinbrasse took Elsinore Castle, see the "Fortinbrasse takes Elsinore" page for a complete on-the-spot report from our ace reporter at the scene. :-) Good familiarity with the play is necessary to appreciate this.

The "Incidentals" page offers brief notes about subjects mentioned in Hamlet. This is sidelight information, not directly relevant to understanding the play, itself.

A page with a simple list of Hamlet (Regained) "Firsts" is available. It merely indicates the extent to which the presentation of Hamlet on this website is superior to earlier presentations in other publications.

Then, there's my "Arguments with Arden." I've used The Arden Shakespeare edition of Hamlet (2003 paperback, Second Series) as one of the references for my own research. However, I have some significant disagreements with that book on various points, about 300 or 400 points of disagreement, in fact. Persons who have the "Arden 2" Hamlet might be interested.

Also, I now offer a page which lists my "Arguments with the Arden 3" edition of Hamlet, meaning the Third Series, published in 2006. It may be of interest to those who have the "Arden 3" Hamlet.

The "Technical Info" page concerns computer operating systems, browsers, fonts, and that kind of thing. You can ignore the Tech page unless you're having problems using the website.

I offer a page with a few "Links" to other websites that may be of interest to scholars and serious students of Hamlet.

Maps, which can be helpful in understanding the events of the play. I intend to provide:

A comprehensive discussion of all the "Stage Directions" in the play will eventually be available.

A detailed discussion of the "Themes" will be offered.

"The play's the thing."