Author of 154 sonnets, author of 37 plays and creator of over 1,700 words, William Shakespeare is undoubtedly considered one of America's most influential poets and playwrights. Today. Many people have dedicated their lives to the study of Shakespeare's work, and even a university program is dedicated to high school students who want to learn more about him. Of the many plays Shakespeare has written to date, Hamlet was declared – on 23 November 2008 – his greatest play thanks to an investigation by the Sunday Telegraph; However, the question of whether or not Hamlet, written 400 years ago, is a valuable and interesting text for students to study. In arguably the greatest play ever written, Shakespeare's Hamlet, proves to be an appropriate and beneficial text for teachers who wish to study its themes, characterization, and entertainment value with their students, as it manifests aspects of our society from which students can learn and identify. , and strengthen their ability to evolve as a person. Through the various themes of appearance versus reality, the uncertainty of life after death, and the misogynistic tendencies regularly attributed in the play, readers can use this knowledge as a platform to become aware of the surrounding themes in their society and the effects it has. on the people there. Additionally, through the various characters Shakespeare created in the play, Hamlet, Horatio, and Polonius provide a parallel to people his readers will often encounter and associate with today. Finally, through the classic plot of the tragic hero, Shakespeare's rich and seductive allusions and use of dramatic irony, go a long way to interact with their audience and bring them into the experience of middle of paper . ......f Cain and Abel which compares Claudius' sin in killing his brother, King Hamlet, to Cain's sin in killing his brother, Abel. This allusion not only provides an image for its readers, but it also allows them to interpret the meaning for themselves, thus effectively engaging them in the story. Shakespeare's use of Hamlet as a tragic hero, dramatic irony, and allusions perfectly attract readers to the play. As demonstrated by Shakespeare's exploration of universal themes, relevant, insightful, and knowledgeable characterization, and its intellectually stimulating entertainment value, Hamlet demonstrates that it is still appropriate for students to study today. At a time when nothing is simple and nothing is easy to understand, Shakespeare managed to grasp – 400 years earlier – the issues and the people of our society today, while engaging us..