Ophelia is an excerpt from “Hamlet’s Obsession” (2014) by Jon Pescevich.
King Claudius:
But how hath she received his love?
(…Polonius produces a letter which he stole from Ophelia…)
Polonius:
She refused him!
And he, rejected, fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
thence to a watch, thence into a weakness…
(…Ophelia feels nothing but pity for Polonius…)
Polonius:
thence to a lightness,
and into the madness wherein now he raves,
and all that we mourn for.
(…seeing Ophelia with new eyes…)
Queen Gertrude:
Ophelia, I do wish that your good beauties…
be the cause of Hamlet’s wildness.
(…Queen Gertrude offers Hamlet’s letter to Ophelia…)
(…Ophelia takes Hamlet’s letter – she reads it to herself…)
(…reading Hamlet’s words aloud…)
Ophelia:
“To the celestial, and my soul’s idol, the most beautified Ophelia…
Now, I will reckon my love for you now!”
(…still lost in Hamlet’s words, Ophelia wanders away alone…)
(…Ophelia folds Hamlet’s letter, and tucks it away…)
Ophelia:
“Doubt thou the stars are fire.
Doubt that the sun doth move.
Doubt truth to be a liar,
but never doubt I love.”