To avenge or not to avenge? That is the question - Game Script "Hamlet" by Shakespeare

Hamlet Prince of Denmark

Hamlet, son of the late King Hamlet (Senior) and Gertrude, is a philosophy student at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. After his father’s sudden death, he quits school and returns to Denmark. That his mother, Gertrude, rushed to marry Claudius, his uncle and brother of Hamlet Senior - made ​​Hamlet feel betrayed and angry.

One night the ghost of his dead father appears to him, accusing Claudius of killing him by dripping poison into his ear." If thou didst ever thy dear father love— Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder!" the ghost commands to appalled Hamlet.

Hamlet swears to take revenge quickly - but then things get complicated and the revenge is delayed...

Your Task

Hamlet, your life has suddenly turned up-side-down: your beloved father was murdered and your mother married your reviled uncle. Your father’s ghost is telling you to avenge his death...

You fall into depression... you end your relationship with Ophelia (can’t believe in love anymore)... You have to avenge your father’s death. But as an intellectual, you want to confirm some important facts:

1. Is the ghost indeed that of your father?

2. Is Claudius indeed guilty of the killing your father?

3. Did Gertrude, your mother, know about the murder and cooperate with him?

Until you know the truth, you can’t take revenge...

Resources

• Hamlet, the play - shakespeare.mit.edu
• Revenge - Bitesize, BBC

Ophelia Hamlet's lover

Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, adviser to the king, and the sister of Laertes, Hamlet's best friend. After his father’s death, Hamlet shuns her and later accidentally kills her father (thinking he’s Claudius hiding behind the curtain). Ophelia goes mad and dies by drowning in the stream.

Your Task

Ophelia, your world has fallen apart instantly: Hamlet, your lover, who used to read you poetry and court you, has suddenly become the enemy: Talking to you in a blunt and insulting tone, killing your father, and making Laertes, your brother, his great enemy.

You think revenge is part of the men's ego battles... revenge is destructive: death leads to more death, destruction, and war. It turns love into hate. If someone commits a crime, they should be tried and punished. That's all.

Resources

• Hamlet, the play - shakespeare.mit.edu
• Revenge - Bitesize, BBC
• Ophelia's Character - Bitesize, BBC

Laertes Ophelia's brother, in the past: Hamlet's friend

Laertes is the son of Polonius, advisor to the King of Denmark. He is Ophelia's brother, guarding her and her advising her on how to act in her relationship with Hamlet.

After Hamlet kills Polonius and Ophelia goes mad and dies, Laertes decides to avenge their death and plots the scheme with Claudius: To stage a duel and kill Hamlet with a poisoned sword.

Your Task

Laertes, you’re a suspicious person and don’t trust anyone (a quality you inherited from your father, who spies on everyone, including you).

After your father was murdered by Hamlet, you hurried back from England to take revenge against the killer. Meanwhile, grief has driven your sister mad and she died by drowning in the stream. Your need for revenge has only increased!

In your opinion, revenge is a natural part of life. You just need to find the right way to take revenge, so as not to get hurt in the process. For this purpose you’re prepared to make plans and plot together with others who share similar interests. King Claudius, for example.

Resources

• Hamlet, the play - shakespeare.mit.edu
• Revenge - Bitesize, BBC
• Laertes's Character - Bitesize' BBC

Fortinbras Prince of Norway

Fortinbras Senior and Hamlet Senior had a duel, in which the loser dies and loses his kingdom to his rival. Fortinbras Senior was killed, and control over Norway was handed over to Hamlet Senior.

Fortinbras junior is determined to regain his kingdom and power, so he recruits an army and sets course to Denmark.

Your Task

Fortinbras, you're a proud, hot-tempered, and very determined prince. You’re going to avenge your father's death and restore the lost glory of the Kingdom of Norway. For you, there’s no other way: honor is honor, and sons must take revenge for their fathers.

Your method is simple: recruit an army and go to battle. No need for anything clever or complex schemes. If you have to kill, don’t talk too much.

Resources

• Hamlet, the play - shakespeare.mit.edu
• Revenge - Bitesize, BBC

Horatio Hamlet's best friend

Horatio is a philosophy student at the University of Wittenberg in Germany and Hamlet's best friend. He returns to Elsinore to attend the funeral of the king (Hamlet's Father)

Your Task

Horatio, you're Hamlet’s close friend: loyal, dedicated, and you serve as the voice of reason and common sense. You’re the only one in the play who isn’t a traitor or a murderer.

Before his death, Hamlet designates you the role of narrator: the one who will tell the world how Hamlet avenged his father's death.

From the start you opposed Hamlet’s interaction with his father’s ghost. You feared it might lead to madness. And indeed, you were right.

In your opinion, it’s better to give up the revenge plans and follow a more reasonable course of action.

Resources

• Hamlet, the play - shakespeare.mit.edu
• Revenge - Bitesize, BBC
• Horatio's Character - Bittesize, BBC