Hamlet enters the office of his therapist, Romeo Montague, and sits on his couch.

Hamlet’s Therapist, Romeo: “Good morning, my friend. At our last meeting, you discussed your excruciating pain and anguish over your father’s death, and how you feel as though life is becoming worthless. How do you feel this week?”

Hamlet: “O, that this too too solid flesh would melt / Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!” (Shakespeare 8). 

Hamlet’s Therapist, Romeo: “Hamlet, what I gather you are saying is that you wish to melt away, presumably into the Earth. Do you mean you wish you were a part of nature, so as to avoid the pain and fragility of your life as a human?”

Hamlet: “Nay, ‘tis not what I have spoken nor what I mean. My misery goes beyond nature and its wonders, and hath only expanded since thy past discussion.”

Romeo: “Please, explain to me what you mean Hamlet. I am here to listen.”

Hamlet: “[I wish] that the Everlasting had not fix'd / His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!” (Shakespeare 8). 

Romeo: “Often, when an individual loses an important person in their life, such as a parent, they feel as though life becomes harder without their love and support. However, you must remember that suicide is never the answer. Taking away your own life will not end the sorrow you feel, but will instead pass it on to someone else in your life.”

Hamlet: “I understand what you are saying, but my friends’ pain is not mine to worry about. I hath never felt so lacking of use. ‘How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, / Seem to me all the uses of this world!’” (Shakespeare 8). 

Romeo: “Maybe it will be helpful for you to channel the pain you feel towards your father’s death into a different outlet.”

Hamlet: “What could you ever mean?”

Romeo: “Well, Hamlet, although your father has tragically passed away, that does not make your own life worthless. It may be helpful for you if we list other aspects of your life that you can put your energy into during this difficult time.”

Hamlet: “How outlandish of you! And how dare you to try and force me to forget my beloved father after only ‘two months dead’” (Shakespeare 9). 

Romeo: “My apologies Hamlet. I misspoke, and would never try to undermine how you fe-”

Hamlet abruptly rises from the couch and begins to wail on the floor.

Hamlet: “I wish I had half of the valor my father had to go and carry out my own demise! This therapy will never work for my broken soul!”

Romeo sits on the floor to comfort the now crying Hamlet. 

Romeo: “It is extremely difficult to work through trauma Hamlet, but you should feel pride in yourself for giving this a chance. It is very brave to admit when you need help and support from others, and I think that if we continue to work together, your depression may be easier to deal with.”

Hamlet blows his nose and takes a seat on the couch once again.

Hamlet: “I admit, what you propose may be true. I will try to continue, as I want to make my late father proud.”

Romeo: “That is excellent to hear. As I was saying earlier, perhaps distracting yourself with other hobbies or other people may help you. For example, you can try to reconnect with your mother or King Claudius.”

Hamlet: “I feel my anger rising up through my soul as you say that. I hate my uncle, in fact, I utterly despise him, and my mother just as well. I refuse to take part in any way with that part of my family.”

Romeo: “Why do you feel that way?”

Hamlet: “The list could go on for as long as the River Jordan flows, but I shall attempt to describe it. My mother has tried to rid me of the deep melancholy I feel after my father, the noble King Hamlet’s, death. ‘So excellent a king’ he was (Shakespeare 9). It makes me infuriated that she hath gotten over the King so quickly, and is now trying to force her happiness onto my soul.”

Romeo: “Although I understand your frustration, you must keep in mind that everyone grieves at a different pa-”

Hamlet: “No! I refuse my ears to hear such slander! King Hamlet was ‘so loving to my mother / That he might not beteem the winds of heaven / Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!’ (Shakespeare 9). The Queen did not appreciate everything my righteous father did for her, while she wasted no time to remarry to my wretched uncle. ‘Let me not think on't--Frailty, thy name is woman!’” (Shakespeare 9). 

Romeo: “Do you truly think all women are weak or are you perhaps projecting your anger for your own mother onto all women in the world?”

Hamlet: “I will not waste my time explaining the foolishness of women and their behaviors to a fool who refuses to listen! If I must go through with this therapy and divulge my emotions to you, you must agree with me! I am your patient, and I pay you.”

Romeo sits in silence attempting to formulate a response. Eventually, he begrudgingly replies.

Romeo: “Well, Hamlet, time is running out in our session. Why don’t we continue to discuss why your mother’s remarriage to King Claudius is causing you to spiral out of control emotionally.”

Hamlet: “As I was saying, ‘a beast, that wants discourse of reason, / Would have mourn'd longer...within a month: / Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears / Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, / She married’” (Shakespeare 9).

Romeo: “Can you explain to me what you mean?”

Hamlet: “At my father’s funeral, my mother’s teardrops could fill the Red Sea. However, her tears had barely dried on her face before she remarried, and to my father’s brother nonetheless! It hurts like an arrow through the heart, as she hardly waited for my father’s soul to depart from his body before giving herself to another man; a man that thinks of me as a sniveller!”

Romeo: “I’m sorry that you feel that way, and I’m sorry for what your mother has done to you. However, you cannot control the actions of others, Hamlet. You can only control yourself, and focusing all of your energy on your mother and King Claudius will only harm you.”

Hamlet: “How can I think of anything other than the ‘incestuous sheets’ (Shakespeare 9) that my mother lies on? It disgusts me, and I feel my brain and soul rotting away as I ponder that thought.”

Romeo: “Unfortunately, our session is up for the day. Next week, we will continue to work through your struggles; I will not give up on you.”

Hamlet: “It is hopeless!”

Hamlet exits Romeo’s office.