- William SHAKESPEARE, born in 1564 and died in 1616 (at age 52), is a great English playwright, poet and comedian. Among his famous works are Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, the longest of his tragedies. In 1591, this is the beginning of his career as a playwright. In 1592, he is noted as actor and author. His talent is recognized, he becomes famous. He will move towards the writing of plays. He writes Lost love, Romeo and Juliet, The dream of a summer night then Hamlet who are very popular with the public. In 1599, Shakespeare's company opened a theater called "The Globe" in London. In 1603, during the reign of the King of England James I, the actors of the theater troupe became the "Men of the King." From 1604 to 1607 he composed Othello, Macbeth and King Lear. In 1609 he began working for the Blackfriars Theater. In 1613, the Globe Theater was burned during a performance of the play Tout est vrai (Henry VIII). This fire marks the end of Shakespeare's career. He had retired to write the plays: Cimbeline, The Winter's Tale and The Storm. He is buried in the very church where his baptism took place. Shakespeare will not see his plays officially published. He has written famous works of tragedies including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Antony and Cleopatra, Comedies and Historical Pieces. - THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK The throne of Denmark was inherited by Claudius on the death of his brother. Also, the new king married Queen Gertrude, wife of the previous and mother of Hamlet. One night, Hamlet, had a vision of the deceased ruler, his father. He informs him that he has been poisoned by Claudius and demands justice. Following this, Hamlet, and to have the net heart on the succession of the throne and the murder of his father, is invented a madness to unmask his uncle. This feigned folly has been attributed to the love that Hamlet has for Ophelia, the daughter of Polonius, the king's counselor. This cunning being insufficient to unmask his uncle, Hamlet sets up another. This consists of a play. Also, he plays the troop in reconstitution of the facts of the death of his father. Claudius, feeling aimed aimed to stop the play. This gesture was understood by Hamlet as an admission of guilt. As a result, Hamlet makes a plan to take revenge on his uncle, the murderer of his father. Beforehand, he talks to his mother. But during this discussion, he had the impression that someone was behind a curtain. He thought he could only be Claudius. Also, with a stroke of the sword, he pierces the unknown. There was a mistake, it was Councilor Polonius. This unfortunate action forced Hamlet into exile in England. Ophelia, losing at the same time Hamlet and his father, sick of grief commits suicide while drowning. Laertes, Ophelia's brother, plans to avenge her sister and her father by challenging Hamlet to a duel. Hamlet, learning this, decides to return to Denmark. Claudius, plotting against his legitimate successor, puts poison on Laertes's blade and Hamlet's cup of wine. The combat engaged, Gertrude drinks at the cup of her son, poisoned, she dies. Laertes manages to touch Hamlet by his poisoned blade, but at the same time hurts himself with his weapon, poisoned, he dies. Despite his poisoned wounds, Hamlet managed to kill Claudius, but died from his injuries. A Norwegian lord, Fortinbras, en route to war against Denmark, learns the tragedy of Hamlet. In return, decides to bury him with honors.