] This is what gets to me, above all. Even people who have never read a word of it could tell you that the depressed-looking guy in a black suit holding a skull is Hamlet, should they see a photo or cartoon.

Speaking of Hamlet cartoons, one of my favorite cartoons has to be an old Calvin and Hobbes where Calvin's food starts quoting Hamlet (linked below).

I've never been able to put a finger on why I liked this play so much, so thanks, Cheryl, for your lovely post saying it so perfectly. I don't really like tragedies, no matter how beautiful the language ~ I found "Othello" dark, "Macbeth" creepy, "Romeo and Juliet" senseless, "King Lear" depressing....but I love Hamlet. I think it's because it's not just about someone murdering someone else, or killing themselves, or messing up everybody's lives...it really is about figuring out the purpose for living, and coming to grips with death, and Hamlet finally wins in the end, I feel. Anyway, even if it doesn't have all the answers, as has been said, it certainly does, at least, pose some very important questions. And I like that. :-)