For Kim Woods

This week, our focus turns to the greatest playwright of all time, William Shakespeare, and his greatest character, Hamlet. We will also return to the concept we discussed earlier in the semester: character.  Shakespeare's Hamlet is one of the most famous characters in all of literature.  This is because he is so complex: so likable, yet so wrong; so sane, yet so crazy; so clearly motivated, yet so puzzling.  Hamlet is a notoriously difficult play to read, so I recommend that you also watch a filmed version of it.  The Kenneth Branagh version is recommended because he has not cut or rearranged the play's dialogue. Our responses this week will be to the play itself, so be sure you have read and watched it before responding.