Hamlet: Full Cast Drama

Written by William Shakespeare

Narrated by Geoffrey Giuliano and The Arc

The play begins with the guards of Elsinore Castle encountering the ghost of the recently deceased King Hamlet, the father of Prince Hamlet. The ghost appears to be a harbinger of doom, hinting at foul play surrounding the former king's death. Prince Hamlet is informed of this mysterious apparition and decides to meet the ghost, who reveals that he was murdered by Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, who has now assumed the throne and married Queen Gertrude. Hamlet is deeply disturbed by this revelation and the apparent betrayal by his mother. He grapples with his grief, anger, and a profound sense of disillusionment. To confirm the ghost's claims, Hamlet stages a play within a play called "The Mousetrap," which mirrors the circumstances of his father's murder. Claudius's reaction to this play confirms Hamlet's suspicions. As Hamlet navigates the complexities of the court, he feigns madness as a way to investigate further and protect himself. His erratic behavior confuses those around him, and he alienates his lover, Ophelia, and her brother, Laertes, in the process. Meanwhile, Hamlet's obsession with revenge intensifies, and he contemplates the moral and philosophical implications of taking another person's life. His famous soliloquies, such as "To be or not to be," reflect his inner turmoil and contemplation of existence and mortality. "Hamlet" is not only a story of revenge and political intrigue but also a profound exploration of the human psyche, existentialism, and the moral and emotional complexities of life. The character of Hamlet is an enduring symbol of the human condition, and his journey through the play continues to captivate and resonate with audiences to this day.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Icon Audio Arts
• Release date: Oct 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998246847

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, on England’s Avon River. When he was eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. The couple had three children—an older daughter Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, died in childhood. The bulk of Shakespeare’s working life was spent in the theater world of London, where he established himself professionally by the early 1590s. He enjoyed success not only as a playwright and poet, but also as an actor and shareholder in an acting company. Although some think that sometime between 1610 and 1613 Shakespeare retired from the theater and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616, others believe that he may have continued to work in London until close to his death.