The Recreative Piece

To be a bit different, I thought that I'd expand on one of the idea's we discussed last lesson- Did Gertrude kill Ophelia? I have done a better soliloquy for Gertrude after Hamlet leaves her after the bedroom scene, but I thought this was more entertaining to read. Well, in a way. Here goes.

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(OPHELIA is sitting on the bank of a river which flows behind the castle of Denmark, dipping her bare feet into the water. Rue is clutched in her hands, she is singing quietly)

OPHELIA: Oh to be a Queen, a loving King for a husband, a blue-blooded child, but now left fatherless, worthless..What shall become of me now?
[ENTER QUEEN]

QUEEN: Sweet Ophelia, are you feeling any better my dear?

OPHELIA: The water is quite cold Madam, quite cold.

QUEEN: (Aside) The poor girl, she is definitely gone. (To OPHELIA) My lady, why don't you come back into the hall? You can warm up, the air is biting. I will ask for a meal-

OPHELIA: Then what Madam? What more could you possibly want from me? Leave me, I beg you.

QUEEN: Now, Ophelia..

OPHELIA: I know what has been happening! You, the wretched King, even my father. You've all been scheming! Turning Hamlet against me, I could've helped him! How could I have disobeyed you? I could've helped him. You turned him against me! All of you nasty, scheming royalties!

QUEEN: How dare you! Did you get taught nothing? You are not to speak to me like that! I am your Queen!

OPHELIA: Of course, Madam.

QUEEN: Damn your insolence! We took you under our roof!

OPHELIA: No, you took my father under your high. chandeleared ceilings! And for what? To make a mockery of him! To destroy his kindness, to use his daughter in a wicked game, to murder him! What am I now, my lady? Nothing. You robbed me of my father! You stole away my lover!

QUEEN: Your lover! Silence yourself child!

OPHELIA: Yes, my lover! We were to be married, to allow our child to grow up with protection and love! We wanted to restore this family from the sham it is now!

QUEEN: Your child? Ophelia..

OPHELIA: The water is cold, Madam. Very cold.

QUEEN: You're with child? Ophelia no! How could you? Tell me this is not the truth but some ramblings from your recent loss of sanity!

OPHELIA: Leave me.

QUEEN: Damn you! You're tainted! You're a devil's advocate! You're-!

OPHELIA: I said, leave me now please dear woman. I've had enough of you for the day.

QUEEN: (Lunging for OPHELIA, pulling back her hair and dragging her to the ground as OPHELIA screams) You're a sinner! You must be punished!

OPHELIA: (Laughing) Kill me like you killed my father!

QUEEN: To hell with you! Sinful little girl, to hell! (QUEEN with noticeable effort pushes OPHELIA into the river which is full of pond weed, debris and other water plants)

OPHELIA: Madam, I cannot swim! (Laughing, as she sinks under)

QUEEN: (Watches OPHELIA drown) Such a shame... Dear girl, I would have so loved a daughter, especially such a beautiful daughter like you, Ophelia.. (Picks up the Rue, as her breath becomes normal again. She throws the plant onto Ophelia's dead, floating body.) Goodbye, Ophelia. You will have a Christian funeral. (QUEEN looks around, before running back towards the hall) [EXIT QUEEN]


Well, that's that then. Apologies for it's shockingness. This has definitely made me realise that I will not be doing a re-creative piece for coursework. Standard essays for the win.