e-angielski

THE STORY OF HAMLET WAVERER

PART I
Hamlet Waverer has just got back from Heilderberg, where he studied philosophy. He specialized in contemporary existentialism.
Now that he is back in England, he has to decide what he is going to do. He has to make up his mind whether he wants to follow his family tradition and become an industrialist in order to run the family-owned factory producing shoelaces, or whether he would rather take up teaching as his career. The decision is not easy because he finds both prospects rather boring. Besides, he has to face up to some complications at home. His father, Hamlet Waverer Senior, has been kidnapped by terrorist and his brother Claudius (i.e. Hamlet’s uncle) is now running the factory. He is not particularly popular with the employees and Hamlet is not sure whether he is the right person for the position. However, Claudius has the support of the Board of Directors.

Explanations
he has just got back from – właśnie wrócił z
now that he is back in England – teraz, kiedy wrócił do Anglii
make up one's mind – zdecydować się, postanowić in order
to run the factory – po to, żeby prowadzić fabrykę
a factory producing – fabryka wytwarzająca
face up to – stanąć twarzą w twarz, oko w oko z
be popular with – być lubianym przez Board of Directors - zarząd (fabryki)

Exercises
1. Describe Hamlet's Waverer's background.
2. Describe Hamlet Waverer's choices.
3. Describe Hamlet's Waverer's family situation.

PART II
Hamlet’s girlfriend, Ophelia, is a sweet girl with blond hair. She comes from a middle class family and is rather sentimental. Hamlet finds it rather difficult to talk to her about existentialism but he likes listening to her singing – she has a pleasant voice and always tries to imitate film stars. Although she knows very little about philosophy, Ophelia is very good at computing and typing. She went to an information technology  college in London for two years. At present she is secretary to Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. Hamlet is not sure whether he should marry Ophelia or not. He finds it difficult to make up his mind about it. If he marries her, they will probably have children; he will be fully involved in family life and will have little time for philosophy. He will certainly regret it if he gets married. But if he doesn’t, he will be sorry too, for Ophelia is a fantastic girl.
But what does Ophelia think about it? That is the question! How does she feel about marriage? No one knows about that. No one knows what she thinks.

Explanations
he finds it difficult to – jest mu trudno
fully involved in – w pełni zaangażowany w
for Ophelia is – bowiem Ofelia jest how does she feel about – jakie ona ma odczucia, jeżeli chodzi o

Exercises
1. Describe Ophelia.
2. Describe Hamlet's dilemma concerning marriage.
3. Give reasons why Hamlet should or should not get married.

PART III
Hamlet’s father is said to have been kidnapped by terrorists. But Hamlet is not sure about that. Why should they want to kidnap him? He has never been involved in politics. Hamlet is full of doubts. He doubts his uncle’s integrity. He doubts whether his mother really knows nothing about the kidnapping. He doubts the loyalty of the people around him with one exception though – he trusts his friend Horatio. He shares his doubts and suspicions with him.
There is a letter waiting for Hamlet on his desk. It is a message from the terrorists who have kidnapped his father. They demand a ransom: six tons of brown shoelaces should be delivered to a place in Scotland by 6 a.m. tomorrow.
Why should the terrorists want six tons of brown shoelaces? Why brown? Why not black? Hamlet suddenly remembers: brow is his uncle’s favourite colour. Everything is clear – Claudius is behind the kidnapping. He wants to take over the shoelace factory.

Explanations
he is said to have been kidnapped – mówi się o nim, ze został uprowadzony
involved in – zaangażowany w doubt – wątpić w
integrity – prawość, uczciwość
demand a ranson – zażądać okupu why should they want – dlaczego mieliby chcieć take over – przejąć

Exercises
1. Describe the situation at Hamlet's home.
2. Describe Hamlet's doubts.
3. Describe Hamlet's reasoning.

PART IV
Now Hamlet knows the truth: his father was kidnapped on the orders of his brother Claudius and is probably dead by now. Hamlet knows the truth but he has no proof. His knowledge is purely intuitive. His sense of justice tells him what he should do: he must punish Claudius and thus restore moral order both to the family and to the shoelace factory. He can’t go to the police because he has no positive evidence of his uncle’s guilt. He must take justice into his own hands.
Hamlet knows that he should act at once but he can’t make up his mind as to what exactly he should do. He waits. He hesitates. And he listens to Ophelia’s songs. Why is he unable to act? Why is he incapable of making a decision? Why doesn’t he behave like a man? Maybe he doesn’t want to get involved in family affairs? Perhaps he wants to live is own life free from the burden of judging other people?
Hamlet was reluctant to act, but circumstances forced him to do so. The end result of the whole situation was tragic.

Explanations
on the orders of – z rozkazu
proof – dowód
thus – tak, w ten sposób
restore – przywracać
moral order – porządek moralny
he has no positive evidence of – nie ma konkretnych dowodów na
hesitate – wahać się
be incapable of doing something – nie być w stanie (nie potrafić) czegoś zrobić
end result – wynik ostateczny

Exercises
1. Describe the kind of knowledge that Hamlet had.
2. Explain what Hamlet felt he should do and why. 
3. Explain why Hamlet was reluctant to act.