Hamlet

1599-1601
Shakespeare
Hamlet
B

Like Romeo and Juliet, this is perhaps overquoted but still remains entertaining.   The bloodbath ending is a bit over the top, though nowhere in the neighbourhood of Titus Andronicus.  Also, Ophelia's fate is probably the most tragic and/or unnecessary, because she's the most innocent of the characters.  And the side-trip to England, which seems only there so WS can make affectionate fun of his countrymen, is a bit odd.  On the plus side, the dialogue, Hamlet's especially, is clever and multi-layered.  Plus, Polonius is a delight in all his hypocrisy and thick-headedness.