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CLAUDIUS, King HAMLET GERTRUDE, Queen CASIMIR, General OPHELIA A SERVING GIRL
ACT I
Claudius tells Casimir why he made him come from the army.
Hamlet and Gertrude enter. Gertrude is coming to be present at the farewells of the King and Hamlet.
Hamlet, Gertrude
Gertrude makes efforts to extract Hamlet's secret from him. Hamlet displays chagrin that she has so soon given a successor to his father, Ophelia arrives unexpectedly. Gertrude leaves her with Hamlet, after begging her to tear his secret out of him.
Ophelia, Hamlet
Development of the love of Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet makes her swear to keep an inviolable secret and confesses that his father* has appeared to him and ordered him to avenge his death but without naming his assassins.
* brother in text.
ACT II
Hamlet comes on stage beside himself. His father has just appeared to him and ordered him not to leave Elsinore without punishing his assassin, Claudius.
Hamlet, Ophelia
Ophelia comes on stage attracted by the screams of Hamlet. At the sight of her, Hamlet's despair redoubles. He makes her repeat her oath and confesses to her the frightful truth. Ophelia despairs. She defends her father with all the warmth of filial love and that which she has for Hamlet.
Claudius, Hamlet, Ophelia
The King arrives and orders Hamlet to leave. Hamlet declares to him that important interests keep him at Elsinore. The king gets carried away and orders him to leave. Hamlet leaves, threatening him in a double entendre reply.
Ophelia, Claudius
The King engages Ophelia to restore her young lover to duty. He notices an appearance of violent agitation in her.
Claudius (alone)
No longer doubts that Hamlet is conspiring against him. He determines to cause him to perish in some way or other.
CASIMIR enters
Casimir comes to testify to his surprise that Hamlet doesn't want to leave. The King tells him that the time has come for Hamlet to die. He is perplexed as to the means. Casimir advises him to poison him at a meal. Claudius consents to it.
ACT III
Hamlet expresses his troubles and the means he has taken to avenge his father. He waits for his mother who has summoned him.
Hamlet, Gertrude
Gertrude comes on behalf of the King to invite Hamlet to the meal at which the King intends to poison him. Hamlet makes his mother admit her crime, makes her share the order of his father who orders her to give herself up completely to her own remorse. She tells her son that she intends to retire to a convent in the realm of the Czar, her brother. That she will confess her crime there and find a means for him to mount the throne of his ancestors. It's agreed that Hamlet will help her escape in two hours. Hamlet leaves.
Gertrude, Claudius
Claudius comes to inform himself of the success of Gertrude's mission. She announces that Hamlet refuses. She exposes her remorse to the King. (Gertrude exits.)
Ophelia, Claudius
Ophelia comes to tell her father that she fears for his life and begs him to abandon a crown which exposes him ceaselessly. She obtains nothing. She leaves.
Claudius
Alone, Claudius resolves to make Hamlet perish as soon as possible.
ACT IV
Hamlet's despair. He considers if he must give up his life. He concludes he cannot until his father is avenged. He waits for Ophelia who has asked him for a final meeting.
Hamlet, Ophelia
She arrives. The scene contains major developments. She does everything to dissuade Hamlet from his project, doesn't succeed and leaves in final despair.
Hamlet,
Hamlet is in despair. He goes to prepare, his friends to come carry off his mother and then march against Claudius.
ACT V
Claudius is on stage. A servant girl comes to tell him that his daughter is dead and to bring him a letter she wrote before stabbing herself to death. "Watch out for a hand that was dear to you." The serving girl leaves.
Claudius (alone)
He sees the horror that is spreading around him. He has a moment of remorse, but he overcomes it and resolves to kill the Queen. He enters into her apartment. He kills her. At the moment he is leaving he meets Hamlet and his troops. Hamlet is recognized as King. He orders that Claudius be led off to prison. A serving girl of Ophelia brings him a letter she wrote dying. His despair.
They come to announce that the independent commoners have massacred Claudius. He restores liberty to Denmark and kills himself.
END OF THE TRAGEDY
Claudius discovers the conspiracy of Hamlet in the third act. He locks up Ophelia and declares to Hamlet that if he doesn't remove his partisans from Elsinore he will stab Ophelia to death.
HAMLET VERSION II 27 Brumaire XI (18 Nov 1802)
Crimes however they may be hidden, sooner or later are discovered and punished.
Everything must give way to duty, even love.
CHARACTERS:
BOLESLAS, King of Denmark
HAMLET, son of Alfred, nephew of Claudius
REGANE, mother of Hamlet, widow of Alfred, wife of Claudius
OPHELIA, daughter of Claudius
CASIMIR, general of Claudius' army
The scene is in Poland at——————-
PROLOGUE
Alfred, great Prince and great law giver, reigned in Denmark. This great prince had formed the plan of giving Denmark some of the institutions of more southern nations that he thought useful for the happiness of mankind. He began some of his reforms and didn't hide the most important that he intended to make from his retinue. Thus he attracted the hate of the high nobility of his kingdom and the clergy.
Alfred had a brother named Claudius, a greedy and brutal genius, profoundly ambitious. He had made himself famous in war under the reign of his father, Christian. He bore with impatience the distance from affairs that the wise Alfred kept him, until the discontent of the nobles made him give birth to the plan of dethroning the King, his brother, and taking his place. He raised the standard of revolt with the great men of the kingdom and assembled an army. Alfred marched against him, vanquished him, and pardoned him. The perfidious Claudius accepted the pardon but never abandoned his design. He counted on finding a suitable means sooner or later, He spent a year in this expectation at his brother's court.
During this time, Alfred ,instructed by his brother's revolt, did much to conciliate the nobles and the priests. Claudius saw with terror the number of malcontents diminish and finally recognized that a rebellion would never place him on the throne of Denmark. Immediately his course was taken: subjugate the Queen, poison the King, get himself named Guardian of young Hamlet, cause him to perish and finally reign. Such were his projects. He was handsome, in the flower of age, had previously shone in tournaments. He reconciled to the court, feigned a return to the tastes of earlier years, was amiable. The Queen was a woman; she loved him.
Soon she sacrificed to him all her duties; their secret relationship lasted a year. Claudius, persuaded that Alfred knew about it and intended to cause both their deaths in horrible torments. Finally, he murdered him with her consent. The Queen was named guardian of her son. After two months given to propriety, Claudius married the Queen and trouble stirred up causing the Estates to assemble and name him King. Bring all this to the laws and customs of Poland where the action takes place.
Alfred had named Hamlet his successor, but Claudius having stirred up trouble and on the pretext of Hamlet's youth had himself named King by the magnates.
CHARACTERS
Claudius, ambitious in every sense of the term, and consequently as great a scoundrel as it is possible to be.
Hamlet, a young man of the greatest courage and the noblest frankness. He had seen war under his father; he's 22 years old. Desperately in love with Ophelia, pursued by the ghost of his father.
Gertrude, guilty wife and full of remorse, loving and fearing her son, she hates Claudius but doesn't dare show it.
Ophelia, young and charming princess, adoring her lover and loving her father.
Casimir, fine general, an instrument of Claudius, acid brained.
Hamlet is a lover who avenges his father by killing the father of his mistress.
ACT I
The King explains to Casimir for what purpose he's recalled the army to Elsinore. Gertrude and Hamlet enter. The King says his goodbyes to the prince. Hamlet remains alone with Ophelia who conjures him to confess his secret to her. His struggles. Finally he admits that his father has appeared to him and ordered him to avenge his death on his murderers. But he doesn't name them to her.
ACT II
Hamlet comes on stage beside himself; his father has just appeared to him and ordered him to avenge him on Claudius who murdered him with the agreement of the Queen. Ophelia, drawn by his cries comes on stage. Hamlet makes her swear to keep the secret and reveals what he's just learned. She suspects the veracity of the apparition. Hamlet describes it to her. Ophelia defends her father with all the warmth of the love she has for Hamlet and that she bears to her father. Casimir comes to press Hamlet to leave. The prince charges him to tell the King he cannot yet do so. Casimir displays his astonishment. The King arrives and Hamlet repeats the same thing to him. The King is very astonished and orders him to leave. Hamlet exits. Claudius remains alone with Casimir attesting that the suspicions delaying Hamlet make him apprehensive and end by making him determined to cause him to perish that very day whatever may be the means.
ACT III *
ACT IV
Hamlet's despair. He deliberates whether he can give up his life. He concludes he cannot so long as his father is not avenged. He awaits Ophelia who has insisted on a last meeting. She does everything in the world to dissuade Hamlet from his project, doesn't succeed and leaves in the last despair. Hamlet forms a conspiracy against Claudius. At the moment he is most animated the King sends to tell him that he consents to give him his daughter in marriage, that all is ready and that they are waiting for him. In consternation, Hamlet refuses.
ACT V
They announce the madness of Ophelia. Scene between her and Hamlet where she is mad from love. The King comes. He has a moment of remorse at the sight of all the misfortunes which surround him, but he overcomes it. He determines to kill Gertrude. He enters the Queen's apartment. Hamlet arrives with his confederates. The King leaves covered with Gertrude's blood. The confederates kill him. Hamlet learns of the death of Ophelia; Hamlet kills himself after having disposed of the crown.
The scene is in Poland in the days of high chivalry.
*****************
I intend to depict in the tragedy of Hamlet the opposition of filial love and love.
The protagonist is Hamlet
after him Ophelia
then Claudius
Finally Gertrude.
Casimir, the tool.
After the prologue what is needed to begin the first act of Hamlet?
To discover the murderers of his father, punish them, marry Ophelia, reign, and since Claudius reigns in Denmark to do great deeds in war and found a kingdom.
Ophelia? To marry Hamlet and to find supreme happiness in her possession.
Gertrude. To protect Hamlet from the traps Claudius may be setting for him, and to avoid being suspected by Claudius.
Claudius? To reign peacefully over Denmark and in order to do this to cause Hamlet to perish without being suspected of his death.
Who are the characters most necessary for the exposition?
1. Claudius and Casimir. This scene about what Hamlet wants. To take his last orders from Claudius, to say his goodbyes to Ophelia and to leave for the army.
Ophelia? To see her lover before his departure and to obtain the secret of the cause of his melancholy.
Gertrude? To watch over her son's well being, to penetrate the reasons that cause Claudius to give him the command of his army and to give advice to Hamlet on the way of conducting himself.
After that:
2. Hamlet comes with his mother to take leave of Claudius. The scene over, what does Hamlet want? To see Ophelia and leave.
Claudius? That Hamlet leave promptly so as to be the sooner defeated.
Ophelia? To see her lover.
Gertrude? To discover the secret of the sadness of her son so as to be able to guide him more securely.
Casimir? To leave promptly; to cause Hamlet to perish and to regain command of his army the soonest.
3. Gertrude, alone with her son, presses him to unveil his secret and does not obtain it. She calls on Ophelia to tear his secret from him, Hamlet. She leaves her with him.
That scene over, what's Hamlet want? To say his farewells to Ophelia.
Gertrude? That Ophelia discover Hamlet's secret.
Ophelia to discover her lover's secret and to say farewell to him.
Claudius and Casimir, idem.
4. Ophelia remains alone with her lover to conjure him, to learn from him the cause of his melancholy. He resists for some time, finally he gives in. He makes her swear to keep the secret and tells her that his father, Alfred, has appeared to him and ordered him to avenge him. He did not tell him the name of his murderers. He's leaving for the army with the intention of abandoning a court where he no longer has any friends and to discover the murderers of his father. They develop their love and leave.
ACT II
What does Hamlet want after the last scene of the first act? To depart.
Ophelia? To see her victorious lover again soon.
Gertrude: To see Ophelia and learn Hamlet's secret.
Claudius and Casimir, idem.
Alfred appears to Hamlet, telling him the names of his murderers: Claudius and the Queen, and ordering him to avenge him before leaving. He orders him to leave Gertrude to her own remorse.
1. Hamlet comes on stage, beside himself. He develops his horror through interspersed phrases.
After this scene, what's Hamlet want? To avenge his father by causing Claudius to perish.
2. The shouts of Hamlet attract Ophelia. She arrives, sees the trouble of her lover, conjures him to tell her the cause. Hamlet makes her renew her oath and tells her. She employs all means to dissuade Hamlet from his design which is to avenge his father. Hamlet leaves, determined to avenge him.
What is Ophelia's determination? To prevent Hamlet from avenging Alfred.
3. She is trying to figure out a way when Gertrude comes to learn if she has succeeded with her son.
What must Gertrude do? Everything in the world to learn Hamlet's secret from Ophelia.
What must Ophelia do? Have a horror of Gertrude.
What must Hamlet do? Run to the friends of his father, reveal to them the secret of his death and excite them to extort vengeance with him.
4. Gertrude asks Ophelia what Hamlet's secret is. Ophelia has a horror of her and displays it with interspersed phrases, and she leaves.
What makes Ophelia flee? The horror Gertrude inspires in her.
5. Short monologue of Gertrude's horror. She sees the day of vengeance approaching. It was in vain she thought the Gods were appeased. She sees Claudius.
How does Gertrude behave at the sight of Claudius? Her first sensation is one of terror. After Claudius announces what brought him, she tries to excuse her son.
What drives Claudius? The desire to make Hamlet leave and to know what is keeping him.
6. He asks Gertrude what's retaining Hamlet at Warsaw. He tells her that he's just ordered that he be found and that they tell him what the King demands of him.
Gertrude allows her suspicions to break out. Claudius repulses them with scorn and bitterness.
After this scene what does Claudius want? To make Hamlet leave.
What does Gertrude want? To excuse her son and watch over him.
What must Hamlet want summoned by Claudius? To hide the horror and hate which inspires him. But he can only partially do so.
7. Hamlet arrives. Claudius asks him the reasons for his delay. Hamlet develops his pride, the King, his haughtiness. He orders him to leave. He tells Gertrude to leave with her son and to make an effort to calm him.
What is Hamlet's interest? Seeing that ————
13 Brumaire XI
(4 December 1802)
Hamlet is pursued by the shade of his father to whom he cedes (sacrifices) his love.
ACT I
Claudius reveals the subject to Casimir. Interview between the King and Hamlet. Confidences from Hamlet to Ophelia. Gift of the scarf. The lovers' farewells.
ACT II
The apparition of Alfred before Hamlet. Scene between the latter and Ophelia. The King comes to reiterate the order to leave; he leaves in a rage. Gertrude arrives, Ophelia leaves.
Scene between Hamlet and his mother in which the latter confesses her crimes and names Claudius as her accomplice. They agree that Hamlet will, that very evening, cause his mother's escape. Hamlet leaves to find the means to avenge his father.
ACT III
Hamlet is on the stage. Ophelia comes and asks him on whom he must avenge the death of his father: on Claudius.
A wrenching scene between the two lovers. Hamlet consents to take no action until Ophelia has seen her father. Hamlet leaves, Claudius arrives.
Scene between Ophelia and Claudius. He remains inflexible. Ophelia leaves, desperate. Casimir arrives. The King tells him that he no longer doubts that Hamlet is conspiring. He orders him to go seek a body of troops that he's brought to Warsaw. Meanwhile, he's going to try to lure Hamlet to a place where he can be sure of him. "He loves my daughter; I have my snares completely prepared. If he gives in, he's dead."
ACT IV
Scene between Hamlet and Gertrude. Claudius has proposed to give his daughter to Hamlet.*
Hamlet wants nothing better, but again, he fights this wish. He fears to offend his father. His mother, moved by reasons of politics, ends by persuading him. He finally agrees that she may go announce his consent to the King. She leaves.
Hamlet remains alone in a moment of joy, but soon remorse agitates him. His father appears to him; he shows him his wound with a look of reproach.
"He's showing me his wound. Oh, I read my duty in it."
* Boleslas announces to Hamlet that he is giving him his daughter and that his presence is necessary with the army. Everything must be done right away.
He decides to avenge his father. At that moment Ophelia comes to find him.
"Come dear Hamlet, they cannot wait for you any longer."
Hamlet refuses. Ophelia at first is beside herself. Then her despair intensifies. She leaves in a deep stupor.
An envoy of the notables comes to announce to Hamlet that everything is ready, and that he can no longer hang back without ruining them.
Hamlet leaves determined on the most prompt vengeance.
ACT V
Claudius is on stage. They come to tell him of the madness of his daughter. He has remorse but overcomes it. He goes to the Queen's rooms to kill her.
Hamlet enters to save his mother. He sees Claudius coming from her rooms with a bloody dagger. He kills him.
Ophelia arrives mad. Wrenching scene between Ophelia and Hamlet. She notices the body of her father. Reason returns to her.
"Ah, I recognize him, and my dream is accomplished."
She kills herself.
Hamlet: "You won't be alone long in the tomb."
He returns the government to the notables, advises Poland to create a republic and kills himself.
If I keep the situation with the dagger, Ophelia cannot be more crazy.
She could still be in presenting the dagger to Gertrude but this situation doesn't enter fully into the character of the tragedy.
ACT I
SCENE I
Claudius, Casimir.
CLAUDIUS: Finally, in Elsinore, I see Casimir again. And you are going to give me news of my army.
CASIMIR: Milord, I have taken it to the border and without the unexpected order which recalled me to you, perhaps the Swedes would already be vanquished.
CLAUDIUS: That order astonishes you? Don't think, dear Casimir, you've lost the confidence of your king, and be sure, since he recalls you here, that he has something of greater importance to confide to you than the spaces where you command the army.
CASIMIR: Lord, I submit with respect to the orders that you are pleased to give me. Still, if I were allowed to speak, I would say that the rumor of my disgrace is disseminated everywhere and Prince Hamlet, who, they say, will command the army, would have reason to fear me if my love for my prince did not assure me of his favor.
CASIMIR: They told you true, Casimir, and Hamlet will command the army; you will be his lieutenant; but don't be frightened; it's there you will render me the greatest service you could possibly render me, and you will finally calm the malaise which never ceases to agitate me. You think, without doubt, that happy Claudius, brought by your efforts to the throne of Denmark, has no further desires. But you know that I mounted it by what vulgar imbeciles call crimes, and that so long as there remains a single witness, my crown is not safe on my head. Already, the imbecile Gertrude who tires me with her endless, vain remorse, would have gone by now to join her spouse in Hell if I weren't afraid of giving substance, through her death, to the dark rumor which accuses me of the death of Alfred. What encourages the partisans of my brother, is this young Hamlet who, although so young, knows how to conquer the love of the people. They complain his youth is deprived of his father's crown. They complain Alfred was carried off in the flower of his age. You know what limits I set to his life; I don't think it necessary to describe them further. But for some time this so lovable prince, that only seemed occupied with war games, has become sad and pensive; he repulses all my advances with a somber coldness. I thought even one day to surprise a look full of fury which he cast at me. I thought that his troubles came from love which, as you know, united him to my Ophelia from the tenderest age. But what do I divine when I learn from that frank and candid soul that she is suffering as much as I am from Hamlet's melancholy, and she doesn't know the cause better herself? Then my suspicions became complete. I had him summoned and in the presence of his mother, with all the friendship that a tender uncle has for a nephew, I asked him the cause of his habitual melancholy. I spoke to him of the crown that I was keeping for him on deposit, I called him my son and wanted to embrace him, but he escaped from my arms with horror and seemed dismayed by a terrible spectacle. His terrified mother called him; he seemed to soften at her voice, he went to her, then he seemed possessed by an even greater horror and left in terror. Then I no longer doubted anything. He knows that his mother knifed his father; he knows that it was I who provoked the crime. I resolved on his death, but it was necessary that she determine the manner to divert all suspicion. I sent you the order to break off negotiations broached with the King of Sweden; I nominated him as general of my army. You are his lieutenant. I am going to receive his farewell here in an instant. You will leave tonight. You will reach the army day after tomorrow. You will give battle. One of your archers will deliver me from my enemy and happy Claudius will have nothing more to do than to reward his loyal Casimir.
********************
Abandoned situation.
Hamlet seeing Boleslas' dagger raised against his mother, Regane, and threatening to stab her if he doesn't withdraw.
"O gods, in this terrifying moment, either bend Or dictate your wishes to me."
Bad verse but very expressive of a feeling.
Thoughts for the characters.
Boleslas, ambitious in the full meaning of the word. It follows naturally from that, that he must bear a mortal hatred to Hamlet.
Thoughts on the dialogue.
Gertrude (name to be changed) I can no longer bear these places which remind me of my spouse and my crime.
Situation.
Claudius knowing that Hamlet intends to avenge his father on him, and not having sufficient troops to defend himself, seizes his mother, Gertrude, and says:
"Dare to avenge your father and I will cut your mother.!"
Gertrude exhorts her son to vengeance and kills herself.
******************************
Claudius, knowing that Hamlet adores Ophelia, and not having enough troops to defend himself, exposes himself to Hamlet holding a raised dagger over Ophelia.
"Go on, avenge your father."
This situation seems good to me because it's in the spirit of the play, presenting the opposition between love and filial love.
The GHOST: (to Hamlet) I was murdered by Gertrude and her accomplice, that only you may appoint his punishment, avenge me on him.
Hamlet, in the farewell scene with Ophelia, speaks of the love of the notables for him and the ease he would have had in troubling the State, if his love had not held him back.
Boleslas, holding a dagger to the breast of Ophelia.
"Well! avenge your father. Leave Warsaw and Poland, instantly and alone, or it's all over with her life."
HAMLET: Oh, gods in this terrible moment, either bend or dictate your wishes to me.
CLAUDIUS*: Well! By what right do you pretend to my love, guilty woman? Since you betrayed your first husband who will answer to me for your word?
CLAUDIUS: Every moment that he lives is stolen from my life.
* Change the name of Claudius to that of Boleslas.
BOLESLAS: But who's been able to hurry Hamlet so? I am sure that only yesterday he was not conspiring. How has he been able to choose the moment when I shall crown his intentions?
HAMLET: Since my father has charged me with his vengeance I no longer know myself. I don't want any more indifference. A secret furor animates me. I feel myself being carried away; I'm thirsty for the blood of Boleslas.
In this play I intend to depict the conflict between filial love and love.
Hamlet is pursued by the shade of his father to whom he gives up his love.
* The last plan for the play has been abandoned because I found in the 5th Act of Hypermnestra the situation of mine which I had taken from The Memoirs of a man of quality— H. Beyle.
The scene is in Poland in the times of High Chivalry, which furnishes me with a tint of love and honor whose effect will be most touching.
Boleslas
Regane
Hamlet
Ophelia
Casimir.
ACT I
Scene I
Boleslas exposes the subject to Casimir, his general: he treats him as an intimate (literally "tutoyer's him). Interview between the King and Hamlet in the presence of Regane.
Confidence by Hamlet to Ophelia. Gift of the scarf. Farewell of the lovers.
ACT II
Alfred's apparition appears to Hamlet. Scene between the latter and Ophelia. The King comes to reiterate to Hamlet the order to leave. He leaves in a rage. Regane arrives. Ophelia leaves.
Scene between Hamlet and Regane in which the latter confesses her crime, and names Boleslas as her accomplice. They agree that Hamlet will come that evening to help his mother escape.
Hamlet leaves to devise a means to avenge his father. (These means will be announced in that which precedes.)
ACT III
Hamlet is on stage. Ophelia comes and asks him on whom he must avenge the death of his father: On Boleslas. Wrenching scene between the two lovers. Hamlet consents to do nothing until Ophelia has seen her father. Hamlet leaves. Boleslas arrives.
Scene between Ophelia and her father. He remains inflexible. Ophelia leaves desperate. Casimir arrives. The King tells him he no longer doubts that Hamlet is conspiring. He orders him to go find a corps of troops to be brought to Warsaw. While waiting, he's going to try to entice Hamlet into a place where he can be sure of him. "He loves my daughter. I have my snares all ready. If he gives in he is dead. He adores my daughter. I'll tell him I want to reward his love before he leaves for the army, and that tonight I intend to celebrate his marriage in the chapel of my castle. If he comes there, I'll have him arrested."
ACT IV
Boleslas, alone, is uneasy. The refusal Hamlet has given his daughter convinces him more and more that he is conspiring against him. One of his officers comes to report that all is quiet. He goes over his dispositions for defense and is ready to withdraw, when they come to announce to him that his castle is surrounded by troops. They come to announce to him that the attack has begun; he sends an officer to observe it. A moment later, an officer comes to tell him the first has been killed. That all his suspicions were well founded, that Hamlet is advancing at the head of the conspirators, that the whole city is declared for him.
Boleslas says, without being understood, two words to his officer.
ACT V
HAMLET: (alone) They've made me give in. In an hour I am marrying Ophelia. My mother has convinced me, but will you be satisfied, shade of my father? (Remorse; apparition—his father points to his wound with a look of reproach.) He's showing me his wound. Ah! I read my duty in it. (He determines to avenge his father. At this moment Ophelia comes to find him.)
OPHELIA: Come, dear Hamlet; they can't wait for you any longer.
(Hamlet refuses. Ophelia flies into a rage at first. Finally, her despair intensifies. She leaves in a profound stupor. Hamlet leaves, determined on the most prompt vengeance.)
This apparition in the 4th act is excellent in that it reconnects Hamlet to his father's vengeance in a manner such that he can no longer recoil.
BOLESLAS: Go find my daughter.
(After a few moments Ophelia arrives:
OPHELIA: What do you want, father?
BOLESLAS: In this danger your place is beside me.
(Hamlet rushes on him)
HAMLET: Die scoundrel!
(Boleslas turns and lets him see Ophelia.)
BOLESLAS: If you approach she is dead. Make your accomplices leave.
(they leave) Leave Warsaw alone and instantly or it's over with her life. Give me your word of honor you won't call your friends.
HAMLET: I give it.
BOLESLAS: I leave you five minutes alone with her. Decide for yourself. See if you wish to sacrifice your mistress to the crown. (he leaves)
New and very tragic scene.
17 Frimaire XI
8 December 1802
I am abandoning this subject which may furnish one of the most beautiful tragedies of the French theatre. But it's not forever that I leave my dear Hamlet; at least, I hope not.
I am abandoning it because the situation in the 5th Act is in Hypermnestra and I don't want to make my debut with a copy.
I found in that play the character of Boleslas, totally ambitious to develop. A character of whom Acomat is but a part. For Boleslas is in the first plan and the principal actor of the tragedy.
No confidants.
A superb and very natural exposition. All the systems of chivalry to develop.
Pity in the scenes between Hamlet and Ophelia; terror in those with the ghost and finally the struggle between filial love and love. Primary passions of man that every spectator has experienced.
I can treat this subject with great success six years from now, by which time I will be sure of my style. Then I will bury Hypermnestra or I will fall. It will be necessary if one cannot show Ophelia mad.
The situation is in nature. It remains to foresee the effect it will produce. One must have experience and style to dare to risk it on the stage.
There was one King, Boleslas II, King of Poland and tyrant to whom I can relate this tragedy. I had the plan to render Regane interesting and to make her appear much less. Boleslas must kill her in the 5th Act.
I read Alfieri and I am very satisfied. I've read the letters of Clement to Voltaire which didn't seem very judicious to me. I am determined to make my debut with The Amorous Philosopher
H. Beyle.
23 May 1803
To begin my Hamlet with
Leave me, horrible spectre, etc.