Hamlet lite 1.1 PDF
Preview Hamlet lite 1.1
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Or Hamlet Lite 1.1 Edited by Michael Hastings North Hollywood Publishing Editor: Michael Hastings Copyright @ 2020 by Michael Hastings Introduction This edition of Hamlet is called Hamlet Lite 1.1 because, as in most productions of the play, a significant portion of the play has been omitted. 28% of the play has been excised. Not one character has been lost, not even the odd reference to “Claudio” in Act IV. Not one subplot has been lost; many productions cut Fortinbras. Not one word from one of Hamlet’s significant soliloquies has been lost (the soliloquy in Act IV has been trimmed but it does not even appear in the First Folio). So what was cut? Most of the cuts were redundancies, tangents, and the passages that scholars argue over the meaning. To the scholar, every word is potentially sacred. But to the layperson and to the student for whom this might be the first and only experience with the work, the language of Shakespeare is daunting. They do not know, as we instructors, what are the important passages on which to concentrate. They see all the words being equal, therefore almost insurmountable. Cutting in this edition, as a director cuts in most productions, is justified. What is left? 72% of the words of William Shakespeare. Not one word has been added. There has been an effort to find subjects and verbs and place them as close as possible, thus cutting the words, phrases, clauses in-between. To the Harold Bloom scholar, this might be heresy, but to the high school student and to the student in the early years of college, this will be gift that gives them the opportunity of actually reading Hamlet and having an excellent chance to understand it. Of course, the hundreds of footnotes will also help. This edition is not No Fear Shakespeare because it is essential to take the time to read the words of the play and train oneself to make sense of the work for oneself. This work is not a rewriting in prose of the play to make it palpable to an audience that wants little challenge. This is the actual play. Only a portion (nearly one third) has been omitted to make it easier, and hopefully a joy, to read. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Written by William Shakespeare List of Roles Hamlet, prince of Denmark Claudius, king of Denmark, brother to the late king, uncle to the prince Gertrude, queen of Denmark, wife to Claudius, widow to dead King Hamlet, Prince Hamlet’s mother Ghost, apparition resembling King Hamlet Polonius, counselor to Claudius Ophelia, Polonius’ daughter and love interest to the prince Laertes, Polonius’ son Horatio, trusted friend to the prince Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, friends to the prince working for Claudius Voltemand and Cornelius, Danish diplomats to Norway Reynaldo, a servant to Polonius Francisco, Bernardo, and Marcellus are Danish soldiers Osric, a young courtier Two Gravediggers, often called “Clowns” Young Fortinbras, prince of Norway Captain, an officer in Fortinbras’ army A Priest, Sailors, Messengers, Ambassadors from England, Lords, Ladies, Musicians, Gentlemen of the court, and Danes for Laertes The Players, actors who perform before the court at Elsinore 3 ACT I SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle. 5 FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNADO. BERNARDO Who's there? FRANCISCO 10 Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.1 BERNARDO Long live the king! FRANCISCO Bernardo? 15 BERNARDO He. FRANCISCO You come most carefully upon your hour. BERNARDO 20 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco. FRANCISCO For this relief much thanks. 'Tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. BERNARDO 25 Have you had quiet guard? FRANCISCO Not a mouse stirring. 30 1 Reveal yourself. (Tell me who you are.) 4 BERNARDO Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, 35 The rivals2 of my watch,3 bid them make haste. FRANCISCO I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there? Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS HORATIO 40 Friends to this ground. MARCELLUS And liegemen4 to the Dane.5 FRANCISCO Give you good night. 45 MARCELLUS O, farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved you? FRANCISCO Bernardo has my place. 50 Give you good night. Exit MARCELLUS Holla! Bernardo! BERNARDO 55 Say, is Horatio there? 2 The other guards; the other sentries guarding the castle 3 Standing guard on the walls of the castle 4 Subjects to the king 5 This is a reference to the king; he is The Dane. 5 HORATIO A piece of him. BERNARDO 60 Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus. MARCELLUS What, has this thing appear'd again to-night? BERNARDO I have seen nothing. 65 MARCELLUS Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,6 And will not let belief take hold of him7 Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us. Therefore I have entreated him along 70 With us to watch the minutes of this night; That if again this apparition come, He may approve8 our eyes and speak to it. HORATIO Tush, tush, 'twill not appear. 75 BERNARDO Sit down awhile; And let us once again assail your ears,9 That are so fortified against our story What we have two nights seen. 80 HORATIO Well, sit we down, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. BERNARDO Last night of all, when yond same star 6 Imagination 7 Horatio will not believe what the guards have said. 8 Affirm or confirm (what we have seen) 9 “Attack” your ears/”Forcefully” tell you something 6 85 Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell then beating one. Enter Ghost MARCELLUS Peace, break thee off. Look, where it comes again! 90 BERNARDO In the same figure, like the king that's dead. MARCELLUS Thou art a scholar. Speak to it,10 Horatio. BERNARDO 95 Looks it not like the king?11 Mark it, Horatio.12 HORATIO Most like. It harrows13 me with fear and wonder. BERNARDO It would be spoke to. 100 MARCELLUS Question it, Horatio. HORATIO What art thou that usurp'st14 this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form 105 In which the majesty of buried Denmark15 Did sometimes march? By heaven I charge thee, speak! 10 There was once a belief that a ghost would not speak until first spoken to. 11 A reference to the last king, King Hamlet, now dead. 12 Take a good look, Horatio. 13 Distresses (A “harrow” is a farm implement with teeth that is dragged over the fields; the verb is a metaphor of how that makes Horatio feel.) 14 To take over/to take control 15 A reference to King Hamlet who was recently buried
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