Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet' has survived the test of time. This is due to Shakespeare's superior use of language and characterization. Hamlet is a unique character that could be present in today's society. Even though the action of the play is directly relevant to a time almost 400 years old. With this in mind it highly possible to hypothesize how Hamlet would be viewed in a modern day context. To do this there are a number of possible factors and concepts that can be explored. This essay will highlight the following ideas; The dramatic change in time periods and its possible effect on the character's actions and how they impact on the plot. How a change in the plot (Hamlet surviving) impacts on the way he may be perceived. The media's influence on the public and how it differs for past to present. Whether Hamlet is mad or just pretending, how use of language conveys these two concepts and how a modern day society may react in relation to his madness. Finally the importance of Horatio in making sure that Hamlet's side of the story is communicated to the world.
             It is difficult to suggest what view a modern day society would have on Hamlet as his actions undertaken in the play are not relevant to the present time period. No one has duels to settle their differences or have actors on hand to spark a guilty reaction but in those days that was how things got done. Back then it was common for people to just kill each other and much easier to get away with it especially if you were royalty. But if Hamlet undertook the same methods of revenge in today's society he would be considered as a cold-blooded murderer. His actions would be seen as foolish and irrational. Nowadays everything is sorted out in the courtroom and proven with scientific evidence. In the past there would have been no way to tie Claudius to the murder forensically. But if the same situation were to happen today there most certai...