This paper looks at Shakespeares play Hamlet and discusses two criticisms of this play, one of which I agree with (Charney, 1992), and one of which I disagree with (Brown, 1992). The criticisms are discussed in terms of their implications for interpretations of the meaning of Hamlet. First, the paper looks at the plot of Hamlet, and then moves on to the analyses of the criticisms, and the interpretation of the play that these two criticisms lead to.