Back in the
1500’s, there was once a nobleman named Claudio who lived in Milan, Italy. He
served under the duke, Hamlet. Claudio had no family for they had all died so Hamlet
took Claudio under his wing when he was but a wee lad. Hamlet gave him
education, taught him the ways of battle, and gave him love and care unlike any
other. Claudio was very good friends with Duke Hamlet’s son who was also named
Hamlet. They took their lessons together, spared together, and they even shared
a room. All was good and well until Duke Hamlet’s brother, Claudius, came into
the picture.
Claudius had his best scheme ever,
planned for many months and refined so many times. Carefully, he would convince
the people that Hamlet pays too much attention to his studies and that he does
not have time to manage the town and help them with their problems. He would
have his brother and his nephew killed before his very eyes, allowing him to
take the title of Duke.
On the ides of March, Claudius had
carried out his plan. He had convinced the people that Hamlet doesn't have time
for them and that they should get a new duke. He also said that Hamlet and his
son Hamlet should be executed. The people said that it was too harsh so they
decided that Duke Hamlet will just be exiled.
When Hamlet and his son were exiled, Claudio had helped them get their
necessities and helped them aboard a proper ship. When duke Hamlet was gone,
Claudius had become the new Duke of Milan.
One year later, a group of people
including Claudius, Claudio and Ophelia decided to board a ship home to Milan
from a wedding held in Africa that they had attended. During the past year,
Duke Hamlet had diligently studied magic, the kind that could help him get his
vengeance. Though learning this magic
would be long and perilous, he would stop at nothing to make them pay. During
their voyage back to Milan, the ship faced terrible weather. Winds bellowed
hard, waves crashed against the ship’s sides, and the sky roared rage. Shipwrecked,
they reached a small island. When they washed up ashore, all their eyes met a
pair of kind dark ones. It was Duke Hamlet, sporting a tunic of rags and a
hermit’s beard. Everyone was surprised! Who knew that out of all the islands
they could be shipwrecked in; they had to be washed up on Hamlet’s island? Duke
Hamlet had welcomed them with a smile on his face, the friendliest smile ever.
It was as if his exile had never happened. Duke Hamlet welcomed them into his
home. As the cast-aways entered the house, Duke Hamlet stood by the door,
holding it open for them. Claudius was the last person to enter. Duke Hamlet
smiled even more and urged Claudius inside. Claudius smiled back and continued
on. As he looked at Claudius’ back… he smiled a whole lot more.
A soothsayer passed by and told them
“Beware the Ides of March!” Claudius walked away from the group for a while to
calm his nerves; he was bothered about what the Soothsayer had said. He knew
his brother and he was one to hold a deep grudge. Hamlet was wise and clever so
he could have easily figured out that Claudius was the one who set him up. What
if Hamlet wanted his revenge? What would he do then? No, he cannot meet his
match just yet. He’ll convince the group of people who washed ashore with him
to “take care” of Hamlet. They’ll sneak up on Hamlet when he’s alone, then
strike him from the back, so he won’t be able to dodge the blade.
Claudius was the leader of one
group and Claudio was the leader of the other. Everything was going to go all
according to plan… or so they thought. Little did they know what Claudio had in
his mind, Claudio thought deeply all the time since this little assassination
plan came to life a few hours ago. He thought and thought of what he could do
that would keep suspicion off him until the assassination time AND save Hamlet…
then it struck him. He knew what to do. It might have been the only way. Had
things progressed differently, they might have all been enjoying a nice dinner
together but no, Claudius had to take his last breath tonight. He wasn’t
exactly sure on how to do it, but he would, definitely.
It was dark, eerie, and
downright creepy that night. Everyone was in their places, knives in hand.
Everyone there was to stab Hamlet. Claudio was running out of time. He slowly
crawled away from where they were hiding. Since it was nighttime, nobody
noticed him leave, especially since he had been quiet all day, making his
presence unnoticeable. He went to find Hamlet and to warn him on what the group
of men with knives was planning to do. He told him where Claudius was
hiding. He was so frantic because
Claudius had asked Hamlet to meet him there to talk. The former duke initially
thought that his brother was going to apologize… and then he would do the deed.
Looking at Claudio with confident eyes, Duke Hamlet reassured him and told him
to go back to his ambush position. Still very deeply concerned, Claudio obeyed
the man who was a father to him.
Everything was as Claudius planned.
Former Duke Hamlet, his brother, was standing in the middle of the small circle
of trees, where their group had spread out. Hamlet was there, patiently waiting
for him… Urgh! The ever-patient look on his brother’s face just made him sick.
He had it. Slowly and carefully, like a lion about to bite its prey, Claudius
emerged from the shadows. Duke Hamlet saw him and greeted him with a smile, the
best smile he had given all day, like he would never be able to smile ever
again, so he was putting all that he had into this last smile… perfect. Whoosh!
Claudius pounced at Hamlet and wrestled him to the ground.
What?! The brothers were wrestling
each other… and Duke Hamlet is winning? Claudio could not believe his eyes for
Duke Hamlet, though he spent much time studying and researching along with the
fact that Duke Hamlet was many years older, was immensely weaker than Claudio.
He had to intervene; Duke Hamlet might be pushing his body to the brink of
death by putting up a fight like this. He charged at the wrestling brothers.
The lackeys saw him charging up to the brothers. This might be it! This might
be the cue! They then charged as well, knives in hand, glimmering in the weak
moonlight and ready for blood.
SHLUCK! SHINGK!
Claudius abruptly stopped; he
thought he heard something weird. The wind smelled coppery and it felt like his
back was wet with his sweat. Oh well, might be his imagination. He then lunged for his brother… then
everything faded into black.
While all of this is happening,
Hamlet had met Ophelia and Ophelia fell in love with Hamlet yet, Hamlet didn’t
love her. Puck saw this and decided to put the love juice on the eyelids of
Hamlet so that he will fall in love with Ophelia. He succeeded and those two
are now in loved with each other.
Duke Hamlet and the group of
conspirators met and Duke Hamlet explained everything. He explained that all
this time, Claudius is only fooling them. So they went back and arrived at
Messina where the house of Leonato was.
They stayed there and Claudio met Hero, the daughter of Leonato, at
first they didn’t gave attention to each other, so as they want to know each
other, they talk.
Claudio and Hero spend time with
each other. Due to this, they fell in love with each other. Claudio decided to
have a party for Hero. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet were talking on the
Balcony. They are stating their love with each other and promised to meet again
and marry each other the next day. Since Juliet wears the same type of clothing
as Hero, Claudio mistook her as Hero and realized that Hero is cheating on him.
On the day of the wedding, Claudio
said that Hero is not a virgin anymore and broadcasted it to the crowd. Hero
felt a huge embarrassment. Because of her feelings about what happened. Her
family members decided to take Hero away. They told the crowd that Hero is dead
already and Claudio mourned a lot.
Juliet and Romeo’s love was broadcasted.
Claudio realized that he was wrong so Leonato asked him to marry his niece. The
day of the wedding came and Claudio married the true Hero. The ending became a
triple wedding with Ophelia and Hamlet and Theseus and Hippolyta.
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