A major interpretative account of Shakespeare’s play, this is a close scrutiny which will engage readers directly with the text and performance of the work. The Renaissance code of honor is seen to be of central importance to the character of the hero, his actions, and to the play as a whole; and, viewed in this light, there is fresh revelation of the character of Hamlet himself and of the dramatic world of which he is a part. Mr. Dodsworth challenges the conventional and traditional reading of Hamlet at many points. But he enforces no single overall meaning and readers are encouraged to remain sensitive to their own individual understanding and response.