This is a retelling of the play, only in novel form. The narration is modern English, but the thoughts and dialogues of the characters are Shakespearian. However, "Shakespearian," in this sense, may be either directly from Shakespeare's play, a cut and paste of different pieces of the play, or my own work, in the style of Shakespeare (to make the dialogue shorter, change a detail, etc.).

As for the story itself, I have changed the protagonist to be a female. This will obviously have implications on the plot, and things will therefore be changed around, but the main plot will be the same.

Please enjoy what I hope will be an interesting read.


Two months. It had been merely two months since the untimely death of King Hamlet. Yet here everyone was, courtiers, royal guests, and honored friends, not gathered to grieve the passing of the king, but to welcome a new one as Claudius had already wed Gertrude, King Hamlet's widow.

Two months; the deed is done with too much haste, thought the young Hamlet. She stood in the corner of the banquet hall, trying to avoid as much attention as possible. Being the crowned heir to the throne was not an asset in this instance, however, nor her appearance. She had always been a fair maid, many had told her. Tall and lean, she naturally attracted the eye of many people, and her gown, though simple and modest, did little to diminish her presence. It was as rich and lovely as that of her mother's, though hers was black - the only color coming from the royal blue embroidery on the sleeves – while that of her mother was a bright white decorated with gold. She knew her mother wanted her to move on from her father's death, but it was too early. Instead, Hamlet had asked the royal seamstress to add the embroidery, as royal blue was her father's favorite color, and the color of his eyes. Thine eyes held so much mirth, my dearest father, and now I shall never look upon them again. What I have left of thee is but thy name. Many did not understand why Hamlet's name was that of her father, a male's name, but she liked it. She had always connected better with her father anyway, though she had gotten along well with her mother too. Before the latest marriage, that was. Now, she found herself doing almost anything she could to go against her mother's wishes.

Hamlet had tried to submerge herself in her own thoughts long enough to escape the pleasantries surrounding the royal wedding, but it was not to be. She was yanked cruelly from the safety of her mind when she heard her name, coming from the last person she wanted to hear from at that moment; her uncle. "…Hamlet, and my daughter," he was saying, to which Hamlet could only think, A little more than kin, and less than kind. "How is it that the clouds still hang on you?" he finished.

"Not so, my lord," she replied, her chocolate-brown eyes flashing, "I am too much i'th'sun."

At this, her mother spoke up. "Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off, and look like a friend on Denmark. Do not forever with thy veiled lids seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know'st 'tis common,- all that live must die, passing through nature to eternity." She looked between Hamlet and Claudius, as though seeking affirmation of what she said, which Claudius was only too happy to give.

"'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, to give these mourning duties to your father. But you must know your father lost a father. That father lost, lost his. 'Tis the way that life endures, a course of impious stubbornness. We pray you," he took Gertrude's hand, "throw to earth this unprevailing woe, and think of us as of a father. For, let the world take note; you are the most immediate to our throne, and with no less nobility of love than that which dearest father bears his son do I impart on you."

Gertrude took her hands from Claudius and laid them on Hamlet's shoulders, forcing her to look at her mother. "Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet: I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg."

Oh, would I so depart these tormenting prison walls! she wanted to scream, but forced another reply from her lips. "I shall in all my best obey you, madam." Thus satisfied, the queen and her new king turned back to their party, allowing Hamlet the chance to slip out of the hall without drawing too much attention to her absence.