Ah, woe is Hamlet, as it has been for the past few months! I say, my son grows more depressed by the day! All he does is mope about and stay to himself. Why, even today he said to Gertrude after she asked him why sadness seems so common for him, he responded "
/'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother (1.2.76-77)". The boy really needs to find ways to lighten up and put his father's death behind him - perhaps that girl he is seeing isn't well enough for him... And what's more, after we all left to celebrate, he stayed behind to mope more, my poor son. My word, he was even talking of suicide, saying, "Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd/His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! (1.2.131-132)"! What can I do to even keep his chin up and from him joining his father in the grave? It would be most unfortunate for him to die, leaving the throne with no heir, and leaving his mother with no family, spare me.
Of course, grief is something that all people experience at the death of family, but the boy has taken it too far. A man shouldn't be mourning so long as dear Hamlet has! I even told him today, "to persever
/In obstinate condolement is a course/Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief (1.2.92-94)". No matter what Gertrude and I try, he sticks to the shadows of his despair, unrelenting to our attempts to brighten his skies! I truly want the boy to be happy, but it seems like a task for kings - ah, that's right, I am the king! And as king, and him as my son, I have to find a way to cheer him - it will do me no good for what I have done if Hamlet doesn't accept me, or worse, becomes distasteful of my rule. Imagine that - after what I did, Hamlet following suit! It would be irony in the highest, and no doubt a sign that I was not meant to be. Ah, but I digress, moving back to the original topic...
Hamlet still isn't over his father's death, as I said before. At least twice, even, given it's all he thinks of, as far as I and my Queen can tell. It even twists his mind enough to insult his mother for marrying so soon after! I heard tell of him saying, when he was by himself, "within a month:/
A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark/
Alas, I fear that Hamlet's depression may continue, and that would be a harm to the country... Yet all the same, I also fear his depression may turn to his fuel, driving him to do things that may be unfavorable for me, and himself... I must keep watch on him, and make sure he doesn't do anything too awful rash, as well as ensure that nobody else tries to find out further details. Well, it's time for me to go discuss matters with the council. Farewell for now, followers! Long live Denmark!
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Your King, Claudius
YOU REALLY SEEMED TO CAPTURE THE KING'S VOICE THROUGHOUT THIS PIECE. I like that you conclude with a few lines to your "followers". That you also end with "Long live Denmark" is GREAT, as it's in direct opposition to the guard's earlier comment that something's "rotten".
ReplyDeleteGREAT QUOTE: "The boy really needs to find ways to lighten up and put his father's death behind him - perhaps that girl he is seeing isn't well enough for him... And what's more, after we all left to celebrate, he stayed behind to mope more, my poor son." Your use of "the boy" does demonstrate the generational gap here, and Claudius' callous behavior toward Hamlet.
You bring up an interesting point here: "No doubt Hamlet would be inclined to believe such an apparition, and with what it said, no doubt he'll believe it that I was the one who murdered his father!" As you conclude with a message to your followers, it is good that you're painting the picture of Hamlet as a sort of crazy person. Later, in the text, we'll find out that everyone loves Hamlet. :-)
My dearest Claudius,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hamlet’s depression is deeply troubling. He no longer finds the same enjoyment in activities like he used to and his comments always seem to have some deeper meaning, like earlier today when he said “…I am too much in the sun.” (1.2.69). The fact that he’s also contemplating suicide also has me very worried. I know that he’s been difficult lately, but I hope you remember what he used to be like as well as I do. I think all we can do is hope that he overcomes his feelings of sorrow and grow used to the idea of our new family. And while I agree that he has been grieving for his father for far too long I have to disagree with you when you said that it was “unmanly” (1.2.102). Hamlet should be allowed to grieve without having to worry about people thinking that he’s not acting like a man.
Yours now and always,
Gertrude
Sir,
ReplyDeleteWe may be " A little more than kin...(1.2.65)" and I may be "too much in the sun (1. 2. 69)", but that does not make you my father. You may have married my mother, disregarding all aspects of social grace and propriety associated with a member of my class (and I say "my" class and not "ours" because I was meant to be king of Denmark. I was born to fulfill this role while you were simply born) and thus bring a shadow of shame on my family. Thought this is not entirely your fault, dear uncle. My mother is also to be partly to blame in this unseemly affair. I'm not quite sure who is worse: the widow who marries another within two months of her beloved husbands death or the man who takes advantage of said widow and hastily marries her (a question that you should ponder at a later date). It was very astute of you to realize that I am depressed. My father has just died of questionable causes yet you ask why "the clouds still hang on you (1.2. 66)". The clouds do not simply hang on me but drag me and pin me down, a constant torment. I don't expect you to understand but I thank you for your concern (however misplaced).
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
(Shannon Kopcha)