🌹The Rose & Skull ☠️
Response 4C
Topic. Write Hamlet or Claudius into The Stronger or Roman Fever in order to make a point about the way Hamlet or Claudius operate. You can write this response in a straightforward or analytical way or you can create an original scene or scenario.
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The passage Free Visitation demonstrates Hamlet’s character in a similar manner to Mrs. Slade in The Stronger. Each character gives the benefit of the doubt towards the people lying to them in the beginning; giving them a chance to speak the truth. They then let the other dig themselves into a hole with their lies; Hamlet’s being Rosencrantz and Guildenstern visiting on king’s orders, and Mrs. Slade’s being her best friend sneaking to see her husband on suggestive terms. It appears both characters enjoy to let their objector make a fool of themselves before confronting them.
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Hamlet is often indecisive but also skeptical yet impulsive. If Hamlet receives Alida’s fake letter, he will first examine whether the letter is genuine and pledge revenge. His vengeance is not to criticize Alida in front, but to manipulate behind. Hamlet assigns the letter inviting Alida to come to the Forum, another Rome place, as if her fiancé had sent it. Alida, who wants to patch a relationship with her fiancé, believes and dies without conquering the cold of night in Rome. As in Hamlet, the bomb maker is eventually blown up by her own bomb.
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Hamlet can take the place of Mrs. X in the The Stronger as they display a comparable mistrust of others. Mrs X's mockery of her husband, Hamlet's mockery of Polonius and their moment of realization about the other party’s guilt have parallels. Mrs X’s rant about the "sea of troubles" caused by the "whips and scorns" of Miss Y’s betrayal is identical to Hamlet's To be or not to be soliloquy. Both refer to themselves as an "outside shell,” a "little black dust,” a "mortal coil" and the "quintessence of dust." Both accuse their friends of trapping them. When Mrs. X declares her own victory, she is using the same upper handedness that Hamlet shows in delving one yard below their mines.
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The rage and hate portrayed by Miss X can be compared to the way Hamlet felt. Confusion, madness, manipulation, uncertainty and revenge are components of how Hamlet operates. His urge for revenge led him to misery and suffering. He has lost everything including the love of his life. Miss X uses hate and manipulation which is similar to how Hamlet chooses to act. She had to prove to be strongest even though she's the one with the cheating husband. Just like Hamlet she lost everything. They both feel the need to prove their strength by diminishing others (97).
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In the “Roman Fever” Hamlet would take a place of an antagonist seeking revenge for the betrayal of friendship. Mrs. Slade and Hamlet have similar characters, they both are hiding their real feelings and trying to show up fake emotions. Mrs. Slade gives hints to Ansley, yet hides the main point (Part II). Hamlet does the same when talking with Claudius: he doesn’t let Claudius understand his true knowledge and emotions (1.2.64-86). In the situation of Mrs. Slade and Ansley, Hamlet would act as if he was in the dark about Miss Ansley's affairs since he is a nature prone to quite revenge. (100 words)
✅ Write a comic scenario in which Hamlet, Claudius, or R&G try to manipulate others while observing COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing and hand-washing. (For a bit of comic relief, try this or this or this or this video) ✅
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R&G's reaction to masks represents them using friendship as a point of manipulating Hamlet to be more vulnerable with them. Their blatant denial of the need to follow safety precautions represents their false sense of concern for Hamlet. Hamlet puts distance between them physically and metaphorically, showing how he no longer sees them as friends and protecting himself. (40 + 58 words)
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In this scenario, Claudius manipulates Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by making them believe that Hamlet has the coronavirus. Needing information about Hamlet, Claudius sends Hamlet’s two friends to “check up on him” and see “how well he is doing”. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet up with Hamlet he instantly notices that something is wrong as both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are wearing masks and carrying hand sanitizer. Hamlet reacts in an unkind manner as both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are keeping afar while asking questions about Hamlet’s “illness”. Hamlet’s outlandish response pushes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to believe even more in Hamlet’s illness. Both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wash their hands before they report back to Claudius.
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My wit’s diseased (and everyone else might be too)
Guildenstern: Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.
Hamlet: Hold there, Guildenstern. Take a number from dear Satan and keep thee hence.
Guildenstern: A number from the devil, my lord?
Hamlet: Aye, for though that pitiful, fallen angel leads us into sickness and revelry, by taking one number from his number we may be yet safe from his machinations.
Guildenstern: You speak of numbers, yet make the sort of maths a fool might, my lord.
Hamlet: Six feet, Guildenstern! Keep thee six feet hence. For the devil and his minions have brought a sickness to our door. The devil’s number is known to every nun and mum to be 666. Take one 6 from poor guileful Lucifer and leave him the rest, but keep thee from me distanced 6ft hence! Coronavirus knocks and mayhaps you have answered and even yet it has taken off its boots and sleeps inside your lungs.
Guildenstern: If this makes thee joyous, then from this distance I shall shout mine message like news in the town square.
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HAMLET: Covid is a wilting flower, such as death is itself; imploding into nothing at all
CLAUDIUS: Covid is nothing of the sort; a hoax made from your father before death, all for nothing but chaos and destruction
HAMLET: Dear Claudius, what is the matter? The people are dying and you cannot take this for what it is? Are you mad- or is it the fever going to your head?
CLAUDIUS: Hamlet- this is nothing of the sort. There is no such fever here and never will be. Let me rest in peace, as I am tired of your bitter words of doubt.
HAMLET: Alas, I cannot; for it is the death and guilt for others that I cannot comprehend. The tiredness of this country not complying to the rules, and the uneducated such as you. For it is the protection and safe distance from you that will keep me sane in these times.
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The first and last panels are darkened by the contemplation of death. Horatio represents scientific clarity while Claudius is the insidious machination that leads good men, and Polonius, to bad places. Hamlet, while protected from their scheming, cares not for their end. (56 + 42 = 98 words)
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“Denmark’s a prison!” exclaimed Hamlet. Rosencrantz looks at him, puzzled, through the screen. Hamlet pulls out his sword, “How can I fight someone when I cannot advance closer that my sword plus my arm?”
Rosencrantz lets out a nervous laugh. “It’s not just Demark, it’s the whole world, everyone’s under lockdown.”
“But no one got it like Denmark.”
“We think not so, my lord.”
Hamlet rolls his eyes “we are being trapped in our homes, with only oneself and our darkest thoughts.” A smile forms in Rosencrantz eyes, visible above the mask, and having gathered everything he needed, he ends the call.
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“HAMLET. [Thoughtfully] It was so peculiar, the way our acquaintance-- why, I was afraid of you when I first met you; so afraid that I did not dare to let you out of sight. It didn't matter where I tried to go--I always found myself near you. I didn't have the courage to be your enemy--and so I became your friend. But there is something discordant in the air when you show up at our home and won’t be honest as to why you’re here--and it annoys me just as it does when a shoe won't fit. I try my very best to appear friendly to you at least, but I can’t help wondering why you’re here. There used to be love in this friendship, but now you won’t be honest with me. [Rises impulsively] Why don't you say something? You have not given me a single direct answer all this time. You've just let me go on talking. You've been sitting there staring at me only, and your eyes have drawn out of me all these thoughts which were lying in me like silk in a cocoon--thoughts--bad thoughts maybe--let me think. Why are you here? Is it out of love or were you called upon?”
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HAMLET: Stay away! six feet apart remember.
GUILDENSTERN: You’re washing your hands incorrectly, jump and sing while washing them to kill the virus
HAMLET: Am I doing it correctly? [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern look and smirk at each other]
ROSENCRANTZ: Almost, you must stick out your tongue while talking
HAMLET: why?
ROSENCRANTZ: It will scare the virus away, do it now! [Hamlet does everything his friends say, he realizes they are lying]
HAMLET: You’ve turned me into a fool! I will end both of you! [Laughing they run away from hamlet ]
GUILDENSTERN: Remember 6 feet apart! [they laugh and keep running]
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✅ (the next three responses are over 100 words, but I’ve included them anyway) ✅
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Hamlet: Nay, Guildenstern, shout not! For if inside thee the Covid rests, from thine mouth expels a foul air that Pestilence shall ride, to bring about the end of Earthly kingdoms.
Guildenstern: Then from this devil’s distance I shall whisper and pray you practiced with the Panotti.
Hamlet: I did not, but tis well enough. Some are best to be seen, not heard. Though perhaps to see less would also be best. Put on this cloth! Over your mouth. Cover your lips and nose.
Guildenstern: My lord! What is the cause of distemper? You once did love me.
Hamlet: The cloth, Guildenstern, put on the cloth! Protect thyself and those around from sickness.
Guildenstern: But lo I consider myself not a man of the cloth. What even could it do, a cloth across my face?
Hamlet: A pagan are you? Then recall the greatest blasphemers the Greeks. Recall you the Sirens?
Guildenstern: Aye. That sang honeyed songs and sailed brave men to their deaths.
Hamlet: [Aside] Memories spring quick when his kin he recalls, no doubt.
Hamlet: Did not brave sailors shove wax into their eyes to halt the Sirens song? You too may block out the evil. For your mouth is Scylla and your nose Charybdis and from both spill a tide that would have the gulls picking at our bones.
Guildenstern: My lord, I beg thee. Start not so wildly from my affair, I only wish to pass a message of concern from your dear mother, the queen.
Hamlet: Is that your only wish? Your truest desire? The one sole reason you are here? To ferry words like speaking ferries germs? I think not. How unworthy a thing you make of me! You would attempt to diagnose me. Like leeches you try to suck out my sickness, though it is clear I am not sanguine.
Guildenstern: My lord, I beseech you.
Hamlet: Are thee a speck of dirt, some smear of refuse or spilled and sticky honey, Guildenstern?
Guildenstern: I hardly think so, my person is clean.
Hamlet: Though not your conscious, no doubt. Still, I wash my hands of thee! Good day! [Exit Guildenstern]
Hamlet: That hopefully deals with one eavesdropper and spy in friend’s clothes. Onwards to Rosencrantz.
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R: my lord, thou hast resigned to solitude for over a fortnight, art thou feeling troubled?
H: stay back! I fear the plague is making it’s great return again
G: thou are but silly and paranoid, it hast been but 300 years since the black death, Art thou a bit behind in time?
H: nay, but I fear… your motives go beyond concern for my mental state. I’ve secluded myself not because of my troubled past and its implications, but because I fear of black death’s return. Your sudden concern for my wellbeing troubles me… I am not out of my wits to believe your desire to get close is to infect me, and rid my existence from elisnore
R: my lord…these accusations are but deluded and false, what makes thu believe the plague hast returned?
H: thy ignorance is astounding…the citizens of elisnore are sick with black buboes, rats roam the streets, and I believe ive seen men in beaked masks practice their crafts
R&G: walks closer into hamelts room
H: stay back! Need not I get infected by your orders from the king!
G: my lord, these accusations are troubling us, can’t thou see that we are just making attempts to show concern for our friend?
H: nay… thou are aware of the plagues return, thou are aware of the kings suspicion of my mental state, thou are not aware however, that I am no fool in this land. I do indeed wish to be left alone as far away from anyone as possible, until the plague takes its comeback elsewhere
R&G: very well my lord
exeunt
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(Hamlet reading alone in his study when Claudius enters.)
(Hamlet does not acknowledge the Kings arrival.)
Claudius: Good day my son Hamlet, you do not bother to greet your once uncle now father?
(Hamlet does not look up from the book he is reading.)
Claudius: Nevertheless, my son, I have come to see how you are doing?
(Hamlet raises an eyebrow in skepticism but does not look up from his book.)
Claudius: It is true Hamlet; I care for your wellbeing. You have seemed distant since your fathers passing.
(Hamlet raises his head up from the book he is reading, there is no expression on his face.)
Claudius: You see dear Hamlet I feel the pain you carry as well, for I have lost my brother as you have lost a father.
(Hamlet scoffs at his remark.)
Claudius: You may think that marrying your mother and becoming king so quickly after your fathers passing, means that I do not feel the pain of his death, but I do.
(a quizzical crooked smile appears on Hamlets face.)
Claudius: You must see that if it was not I to take his place as king it would have been another, and wouldn’t you much rather the man that takes your mothers hand be someone who your father also loved and cherished? You must know your father would have wanted it this way, he would have wanted it to be myself to take his place and not a rival or someone lesser. I am simply doing my duty to my brother by taking your mothers hand in marriage after his passing. This was never something I wanted for myself, I honor the memory of my brother by being King and now your father.
(The smile fades from Hamlets face as he stares at his uncle)
Claudius: I see you do not believe this to be true. What say you then dear Hamlet?
(Hamlet inhales deeply)
Claudius: What is it then? Speak if you have something to say! Is it that you do not believe that I morn my brothers’ death? How you can think such retched thoughts, that I do not know. Or perchance you believe something more sinister than that. Surely you cannot think I wanted his death, or I could have a hand in it. No Hamlet, I would never. I loved your father; I would never do anything to harm him. Even if I were offered all the riches in the world, I would never kill my own brother. You are truly blind Hamlet! I never wanted to marry your mother or be King! You are mad to have these thoughts Hamlet, mad! I will see fit to make sure everyone in the kingdom knows it! (exits Claudius)
(Hamlet smiles and once more continues to read his book.)
END.
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