Claudius Quotations Flashcards
(44 cards)
Act 1 Scene 2 Claudius speech setting
. Held in great hall after Old Hamlet’s funeral and his marriage to Gertrude
. First important speech after coronation
. Setting juxtaposes the cold outdoors where the ghost first appear
How does Claudius address his brothers death?
. Only dedicates six lines to him
. Quickly brushes over it
. ‘Our dear brother’
What does the Claudius want the audience to do in mourning the king?
Oxymoron of ‘wisest sorrow’ - court must be wise and sensible through grief, Claudius wants the court to forget the old King and accept his Kingship
How does Claudius address his remarriage?
‘Sometime sister now our queen’ - wants to appear as a legitimate ruler and good king, actions may seem incestuous but he presents himself in a calm, orderly manner so the court accepts him, by saying ‘queen’ last the court remembers her as such rather than his sister in law
What is the structure of Claudius’ speech like
Rhythmic and regular indicating it is rehearsed, calm and orderly, Denmark is not calm and orderly
What is the opening line of Claudius’ act 3 scene 3 soliloquy
‘Oh my offence is rank it smells to heaven’
Claudius cannot pray for forgiveness
‘Pray can I not’
Claudius says his sin is too bad to be forgiven - link to blood
His ‘cursed hand’ were ‘ thicker than itself with brother’s blood - sins is to bad to be forgiven
Not enough in heaven to clear him of sin
‘Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens to wash it white as snow’
Cannot pray because he still has the reward of sin
‘I am still possessed of those effects for which I did murder’ as he still has ‘my crown, mine own ambition, and my queen’
Ironic line which shows Claudius is not actually praying
‘my words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go’
‘But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son’ - explained
. ‘Cousin’ - meaning distant relative, humiliates Hamlet, but also ensures the court forget the incestuous relationship
. ‘My son’ - appearance vs reality, seems like a close relationship to the court
. ‘But now’ - Claudius addresses Hamlet secondly and uses Laertes as a model son, causes Hamlet to feel bad as he is not as important as his courtier’s son
‘Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, your father lost a father’ - explain
. Appearance vs reality - tries to appear caring and understanding Hamlet before criticising him
. Form of manipulation
. ‘But’ - conjunction, quick turning point conveys how unsympathetic he is, signals his guilt
. ‘Your father lost a father’ - uses a patronising tone, everyone’s father dies so Hamlet should get over it
Hamlet is sinning by grieving so much like a girl
‘tis unmanly grief; It shows a will most incorrect to heaven’
And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you? You told us of some suit; what is’t, Laertes? You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, and loose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes?’ - explained
. Asserting his position as King and most important
. Repetition of Laertes - could be intense + patronising or it could be playful or helpful
Claudius’ first address to Laertes
And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you? You told us of some suit; what is’t, Laertes? You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, and loose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes?’
Claudius’ first address to Hamlet
‘But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son’
Claudius tells Hamlet about everyone experiencing death
‘Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, your father lost a father’
Claudius tells Hamlet his mourning is not masculine
‘tis unmanly grief; It shows a will most incorrect to heaven’
How does Claudius address R+G in an insincere way
. ‘Welcome dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’
. ‘We much did long to see you’
Pragmatic, Claudius wants to send Hamlet to England
‘And he to England shall along with you’
Claudius deferring to Laertes father, dig at Hamlet as sons should obey their fathers
‘Have you your father’s leave? What says Polonius?’
Claudius criticises Hamlets mourning in a severe way
‘a heart unfortified, a mind impatient’ (stupid), ‘a fault to heaven, a fault against the dead, a fault to nature’
Claudius tells R + G if Hamlet has fun with them he will forget himself and forget something, information by deceit
‘Draw on him with pleasures’
