The document provides a summary of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It was written around 1599-1601 and was influenced by earlier versions of the story as well as Shakespeare's other works. The play is set in Denmark and follows Prince Hamlet who seeks revenge against his uncle Claudius for murdering Hamlet's father and marrying his mother. It explores themes of familial duty, the struggle between action and inaction, sanity, and uses the human body as a metaphor for the state of Denmark. The play had a lasting legacy and introduced iconic characters and quotes that are still referenced today.