Act 1 - File Document

Dear Grace,

Everyone has been talking since Old King Hamlet’s death. There are so many stories floating around the castle about how he died. I have not yet heard the true story of his death, but thy credit is that he died in his sleep while he was napping in the garden. His appearance did not even look wan before his death. After he died, his brother Claudius took over as King. Not even a week later, Claudius married the King’s widowed wife, Gertrude. The wedding took place too soon. The Queen does not even seem like she is mourning over her first husband. ‘Tis she abandon old King Hamlet? It is very mysterious, almost as if they both knew old King Hamlet was going to die. They couldn’t have known though, it was a surprise to the entire kingdom. Could they have known? It may be possible they knew, but if they did, does that mean they had well bethought his murder and this is all a pageant? One of the rumours going around the castle is that Claudius and Gertrude were to dally right under thy King’s nose. I did not think it was possible because I am her lady-in-waiting and I never had seen them together before. Well of course I had seem them together, but never in the act of dallying. Although, right before the King’s death, I had walked in on them a couple times whispering about something in very low voices. Perhaps they really had well bethought this. It would make sense. If old King Hamlet was dead, Gertrude and Claudius could be together, and Claudius would inherit the golden round. It is possible Gertrude doesn’t even know what Claudius had done. Claudius had even made a descant that they should forget about his brother’s death and concentrate on the happiness of the wedding. I must say, things are getting very strange. At first, Prince Hamlet was mourning and grieving over his father a lot. His mother’s hasty marriage to his uncle made him fell and wrath. I know that he felt betrayed by his mother for marrying Claudius. Though now, he does not appear to be grieving anymore. It is almost as if he knows the secret Claudius and Gertrude are keeping, if Gertrude is in on it that is. However, the way he looks at his uncle is not like they are keeping a secret together, it is more a look of revenge. I had overheard some of the maids saying that Hamlet has gone mad. They also had mentioned that he was going mad because of the rejection from Ophelia. Personally, I do not think that’s the real reason wherefore he is behaving that way. I think that it has something to do with Claudius killing his father, if in fact he did do it. On the other hand, if he had killed his father, I would believe that Hamlet would find a way to revenge him for his wrong doings, yet he still goes on like nothing had happened. It is all one big mystery, that maybe I will never find out the truth about. I will write to thee again in sevennight if I hear of anything else. Thy hope thou family is well.

Sincerely,

Maggie Sulvern