In William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark", often shortened to Hamlet, the famed melancholy Danish Prince is called on by the ghost of his dead father to avenge his murder. Written sometime between 1599 and 1602, it is Shakespeare's longest and best-known play, and is considered to be one of the most powerful and influential works in all of literature. The coveted roles of Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude have traditionally been performed by the greatest actors of their days since its premiere.