For centuries, scholars, directors, and actors have attempted to understand the unified meaning of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The lack of consensus persists while Hamlet remains an important source of dramatic and scholarly conversation. The ambiguity of Hamlet is often cited as the reason the play has endured, in part because of the three different printed versions of the play. Each version loses an important aspect of the play and thus creates a completely new interpretation of certain characters and events. Any version of Hamlet read today is likely a "patchwork quilt" of three different print additions, adapted together in what is believed to be the spirit of what Shakespeare meant (Rosenbaum 30). Without the benefit of asking Shakespeare himself, it is difficult to definitively select what he meant. Although a definitive version of Hamlet has not yet been printed, the Hamlet quilt has given researchers a difficult compromise while still providing an overall text for the classroom. Since this version contains a coherent narrative, the ambiguity comes mainly from the characters. Many characters, Hamlet in particular, have inconsistent behaviors and appear to be completely different people as the play progresses. The duality of dispositions that many actors embody conveys the universal truth that human behavior is not black and white but rather is a mixture of different and often contradictory behaviors. Ophelia provides an excellent example of the duality of human behavior that is prevalent in the world. play. At the beginning, Ophélie is a good, innocent and stable servant. As the play progresses, Ophelia seems to lose her good nature and innocence until finally succumbing to madness. Claudius as......middle of document......mainly focuses on conflicting personalities and characteristics. Shakespeare's emphasis on multifaceted personalities gives the characters more depth and realism. Indeed, Shakespeare reflects the reality of the world in which individuals act very differently from one situation to another. Depending on their temperament, subsequent actions may be at odds with their personality. Shakespeare allows the audience to see a play with realistic characters who provide insight into the frailties of human nature. William Shakespeare's ability to create dialogue, which creates complex characters, has endeared Hamlet to scholars and audiences throughout the centuries. Works CitedShakespeare, William. Literature “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”: an introduction to reading and writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print