Get Over It!

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The scene begins with the king saying -
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
Th’ imperial jointress to this warlike state,

Now If Act 1, Scene 1 is Denmark at night — cold, nervous, haunted — then Act 1, Scene 2 is Denmark in daylight — warm, ceremonial, confident, and polished.

And here’s the spine of this scene and the simple phrase that keeps coming back:
The court is telling Hamlet, with polite smiles and royal authority, “Get over it.”
And Hamlet is thinking, “I can’t. And I won’t. Because something is wrong.”

GEORGE:
Master Shakespeare, we begin with a ghost on the battlements — and then we jump into court ceremony and speeches.

Master Shakespeare - how does the ghost begin speaking.

Ah, Mr. Bartley - My hour is almost come
When I to sulf’rous and tormenting flames
Must render up myself.
Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing
To what I shall unfold.

Well Master Shakespeare, why place these scenes back-to-back?

SHAKESPEARE:
Because the world is split, Mr. Bartley.
Night shows what day denies.

GEORGE:
Let me say that again in modern terms:
Scene 1 shows you the secret weather of Denmark.
Scene 2 shows you the official forecast of Denmark.

SHAKESPEARE:
Aye.

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