Fortinbras's Soliloquy
This is a soliloquy that I wrote, taking place after the fact in Hamlet. It's from Fortinbras's point of view, dealing with the notion of whether or not to take the rule that has been handed down to him by Hamlet, shortly before his death. I had to write it for a school assignment, but once I started, I was having fun with it, and thought it turned out well. So, I decided to post it here.
Enjoy.
FORTINBRAS:
"Lo! the bloodied crown of tyrants and fiends. So
golden and bejeweled; thou hast been crafted as
if thou were made'st to be a star. How shall I
bear thee? Heavy burdens oft' lie in idle crowns.
How shall I bear thee I say! midst thy bloodied
gems and serpentine spine? Nay, 'tis not for kings,
but villainous rogues with fiendish ire; it is for
the tyrant king that would perch 'pon the banister
of raucous public discord, as t'were it a throne.
Art thou not but a tainted wedding jewel 'twixt men
and the plans they sew? Shouldst thou not be cast into
the belly of the land; allowed thine penance for thy
numbered sins and villainous treats? Thou couldst
maketh a home for the vermin, and be among thy kin.
Or torn asunder and lost at sea; but, nay—for thou
bones wouldst be an albatross 'pon Neptune's neck.
Alas! Shall I shackle myself to thee? Submit to the
seeds that temptation doth lay? Become the surrogate
king? Where couldst thy temptation lead, if thine
gleaming jewels and ethereal charm doth not deceive
me as thou did men afore? Hark! I see 'yond thy golden
rims and succulent call, to the core of thy poisonous lips!
But if that conspirator—if thine Prince of those
vile deeds hath chosen me, wouldst it be wise to
bear thee? 'Twas it his compassion or damnation that
doth made thee a burden? Whereforth, Hamlet?
Art thou plans, thou villainous schemes, thou
plots of trickery not undone in death? Hath though
not yet passed? Must ye too make a mockery of
me as the shadow doth the darkness and the light?"