Welcome to the kingdom of Denmark.  Not a kingdom that resembles any historical period, but the kingdom that serves as the setting for Shakespeare's play Hamlet.  It is a rich and wonderful setting for a rich and wonderful play.  Unfortunately, Hamlet, like most of Shakepeare's work, is also extremely complex, ambigious, and often times completely confusing.

The purpose of this iadventure is to help a post-Hamlet student focus his or her study of the play by directing them towards specific research objectives.  By assuming the role of Commonus, a paige in the service of Hamlet during the activities of the play, the iadventure offers you the oppurtunity to experiment with different interpretations of the play and focus on supporting that interpretation through research.

Saints alive but it has been an unbelievable couple of months.  Ever since Prince Hamlet returned from school following his father's death, things have been extremely weird around the danish court, and no one is entirely sure why.  Unfortunately the entire Royal Family is dead, and Fortinbras has assumed control of the throne.

While accepting Horatio’s explanation surrounding the gruesome death of the Danish Royal family, Fortinbras remains both extremely curious and somewhat skeptical.  As such, he is searching the court for someone who might be able to offer further insight into the events, and offer possible insight into Hamlet’s actions.  As a servant in the castle, Commonus, you feel that it is your duty to come forward.  Your knowledge of the hidden passages and trapdoors of the castle allowed you to shirk your responsibilities in the kitchen and spy on the various members of the Royal Court.  Though you did this simply for your own amusement, you must now use your extensive knowledge of the events from Hamlet’s return to court until his death to explain to Fortinbras what Hamlet was really like.  If Fortinbras finds your explanation suitable, he will surely reward you.  If he finds it lacking however......best not to dwell on the negative.

Now it is time for you to make a decision.  Based on your knowledge of the events you must decide whether or not you think Hamlet the driving factor behind Hamlet's actions was mental  instability or if he was simply using that as a cover for his devious planning.

               Mentally Unstable.                                      Back                                                            Devious