HamletisperhapsthemostnotoriouslyenigmaticcharacterinallofWesternliterature:wewanttolikehim,wewanthimtofindpeace,andyettherearealwaysthefactsthathecallouslydestroysOpheliawithoutreason--certainly,antagonizingPolonius'sdaughterdoesnotfallundertheumbrellaofhis"anticdisposition"--andthatheremorselesslymurdersPolonius,andevenlatergratuitouslyordersthedeathsofhisformerschool-friends,RosencrantzandGuildenstern.WethereforecannotconnectwithhiminthesamewaythatweconnectwithothertragicheroeslikeBrutus.Butalongthesamelines,Hamletiscertainlynohero-villain:heisnoMacbeth,forinstance.

　　SohowshouldwethinkaboutHamlet?Perhapsthebestadviceistogiveuptryingtocategorizehimandinsteadjustlistentohim:hethinkssowellthatourownthinkingcanonlyimprovefromexposuretohis.ManypeoplefussoverHamlet'sinaction,hisinabilitytofollowthroughwithhisvengeanceagainstClaudius,butthemoreyoulistentoHamlet,themoreyoubegintorealizethatperhapsfulfillinghisdeadfather'srevenge-wishisnotwhathewants,andTHATiswhyhedoesnotact.IfirmlyfollowNietzscheinhisobservationthatHamletdoesnotthinktoomuch,butratherthinkstoowell.

　　LikealloftheFolgerLibraryeditionsofShakespeare,thistextincludesusefulnotesoneveryleft-handpageandareasonableconsolidationofallversionsoftheplayoneveryright-handpage.Thus,thebookisidealforanyclassroom-orindividual-basedstudyofShakespeare'smostengimaticpersonage.Highlyrecommended.