How and why do William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet speak to us today in a strong way?

Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet are two of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays. Both have gripping plots, poetic language, and memorable characters.

Romeo and Julietis the famous tale of “A pair of star-cross’d lovers,” a story that has been retold many times. Two of the most popular adaptations in the 20th century are the musical West Side Story (filmed in 1961) and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), both of which were portrayed in a...

Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet are two of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays. Both have gripping plots, poetic language, and memorable characters.

Romeo and Juliet is the famous tale of “A pair of star-cross’d lovers,” a story that has been retold many times. Two of the most popular adaptations in the 20th century are the musical West Side Story (filmed in 1961) and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), both of which were portrayed in a contemporary setting. Because both war and love have been part of human nature for millennia, the story of forbidden romance can be portrayed in nearly any culture. Shakespeare’s version, which was not the original, is particularly timeless, due to vivid characters such as Juliet’s bawdy nurse and Romeo’s imaginative and volatile friend Mercutio. The play also has beautiful poetry that depicts the passion of love (such as Romeo’s “what light through yonder window breaks?” speech) and words of wisdom about the futility of violence.

Hamlet is a philosophical tale of intrigue that keeps spectators in suspense. The title character has captured the imagination of scholars and audiences all over the world. He is a lone, changeable figure, full of contradiction and doubt. Many say he is an early depiction of modern man. Hamlet differs from Laertes, for example, a man of action who lives as he feels. Hamlet reacts to the world around him, doubting everyone and everything in his quest for vengeance. He often meditates on the senselessness of life. In one of many monologues, Hamlet marvels at the existence of mankind:

What a piece of work is a man! ... in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?

There are countless reasons why both Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet remain so powerful, including their adaptability, complex characters, exciting plots, and magnificent language.