Wood (2004) contends that Almereyda's film version of Hamlet privileges the visual over the verbal. Deans refers to Hamlet's letter to Ophelia, Hamlet's revisions to the script of 'The Mousetrap,' and Claudius's letter to the King of England the critic believes that 'each successive act of writing or rewriting marks a pivot in Hamlet's development toward personal agency.' Robert E. While many critics have commented on the dialogue and soliloquies in the play, Thomas Deans (2003) has studied the many references to written documents-particularly the numerous letters that are summarized, paraphrased, or read aloud on stage-and contends that these written texts not only forward the plot but provide as much insight into various characters as do the speeches. Silvia Bigliazzi (2005) has analyzed the Hecuba scene of Hamlet, noting that there are two irreconcilable concepts at work not only in that scene, but in the play as a whole-dramatic action versus dramatic paralysis, which she labels 'a deep clash between metadrama and metanarrative.' Peter Matthews (2001) criticizes Michael Almereyda's 2000 film version of Hamlet for modifying the paralysis that typically afflicts the title character and turning the 'existential ditherer' into a 'take-charge guy.' According to Matthews, the compression of the play into a film of less than two hours is a big part of the problem: 'Almereyda seems blind to the paradox of proceeding at a jog-trot through Shakespeare's immortal study in procrastination.'

Much modern criticism focuses on the character of young Hamlet and his inability to act decisively. When Claudius, in order to prevent Hamlet from revealing the truth about the old King's death, tries to have Hamlet killed, the result is that all three-Claudius, Gertrude, and Hamlet-are poisoned and the Danish throne is taken over by Fortinbras, the ruler of Norway. Young Prince Hamlet is visited by his father's ghost, who demands that his son avenge his murder, but Hamlet is riddled with indecision and paralyzed into inaction. Its well-known story involves the murder of Hamlet, King of Denmark, by his brother Claudius, who then not only assumes the throne but also marries his brother's widow, Queen Gertrude. The play has been the subject of more scholarly investigation than any work of Western literature.

Hamlet, composed circa 1600, is Shakespeare's most popular tragedy among critics as well as on stage and screen.

Hamlet theme