As Shakespeare's most philosophical character, Hamlet is used as a medium to explore the fundamental questions which the Elizabethan audience and the modern day audience continue to ponder. ... The two characters are further challenged by the Christian edict of "thou shall not kill", but also by the familial piety and duty that was expected at the time. ... As Sigmund Freud has stated, its greatness rivals that of Oedipus Rex and The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky as it is a moral story about patricide, while also acting as a psychological understanding of humanity. ...

• Word Count: 1105
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate