Hamlet: Corruption Flashcards
‘Something is _________ in the ______ of __________’
‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’
A1 S4
- Denmark rotten to the core/at the heart of the play
‘O, my _________ is rank, it _______ to _________;’
‘O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;’
A3 S3 Claudius
‘I’ll __________ my ___________ to him’
‘I’ll loose my daughter to him’
Polonius
‘Hamlet is in fact the _______ in the ____ of the _____________’
‘Hamlet is in fact the poison in the veins of the community’
G.W Knight (20th)
‘Corruption within the ________ framework of a _________ is highlighted’
‘Corruption within the political framework of a kingdom is highlighted’
Alexander (19th)
‘His means of ________ however are totally ________’
‘His means of actions however are totally corrupt’ (Polonius)
Rebecca Smith (20th)
‘tis an ___________ garden… things _____ and _______ in nature __________ it merely.”
“tis an unweeded garden … things rank and gross in nature possess it merely.”
A1 S2 Hamlet
- Description of Denmark
- Merely = completely
- Weeds unwanted/hard to remove/deep like corruption in court
‘The _________ that did ______ thy father’s _____ now _______ his _______.’
“The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown.”
A1 S5 (Ghost)
- Biblical connotations of ‘snake’ (deception/corruption)
- Breaking of the divine right of kings
‘And ___ not ________ the ________ on the ______ and make them _______’
‘And do not spread the compost on the weeds and make them ranker’
A3 S4 (Hamlet)
- Recurring metaphor of garden
- Refusal to repent for sins will only make them worse/dirtier
- Do not facilitate corruption as it will only worsen the state
‘___________ is ________ empty’
‘Claudius is morally empty’
Schofield (20th)
Kenneth Branagh 1996 production, Claudius’ coronation
A1 S2:
- Large, public ceremony where Claudius is crowned king
- Pompous/excessive display of power and authority
- Big fanfare and confetti (perhaps him attempting to affirm his power)
‘let not the ______ bed of Denmark become a couch for _________ and damned _____’
‘let not the royal bed of Denmark become a couch for luxury and damned incest’
(Ghost)
- Opposing the relationship between Gertrude + Claudius
Importance of setting in RSC 2025 Luke Thallon production
- Entire play occurs on a boat/ship
- Reflects the constant instability of Denmark, claustrophobia of Denmark
- Adds to the intensity
Date production was set and its importance (RSC 2025 Luke Thallon production)
- 1912
- Same year titanic sank = suggests inevitable doom of the court
- Prior to WW1 = reflects impending invasion/war with Norway
After Polonius’ death in RSC 2025 Luke Thallon production
A3 S4:
- Hamlet covered in Polonius’ blood + smears onto himself and Gertrude (sharing in his death with her/painting her as an accomplice)
- Gertrude wearing white dress + he smears onto Gertrudes chest/heart (showing her own corruption, stained with death/immorality)
How does the casting of the Ghost and Claudius in the 2009 Tennant production blur the lines between good and evil?
He is played by the same actor (ghost is embodying Claudius’ guilty conscience)
‘you cannot ________ upon me’
‘you cannot play upon me’
- Hamlet to Guildenstern
- Recorder is an extended metaphor for lack of autonomy (instrument)
- Hamlet claiming he cannot be lied to/manipulated
‘scurvy ____________ who does not practice what he __________’
‘scurvy politician who does not practice what he preaches’ (Polonius)
Bate (21st)
‘A ______________ schemer who takes his plotting to absurd ______________’
‘A Machiavellian schemer who takes his plotting to absurd proportions’ (Polonius)
Hartwig (19th)
‘that was to this ___________ to a _______’
‘that was to this Hyperion to a satyr’
- Classical reference
- Comparing his father to a sun-God (Hyperion) vs Claudius to a half-goat creature (satyr)
- Highlighting the stark contrast between the mean
‘________ and gentle ______’
‘good and gentle king’
GW Knight (20th)
‘The __________ and lecherousness of Claudius’ _______ has ____________ the whole ________________ of Denmark’
‘The cunning and lecherousness of Claudius’ evil has corrupted the whole kingdom of Denmark’
Altick (20th)
‘______ is out of _____, O cursed ______ that I was ______ to set it right’
‘time is out of joint, O cursed spite that I was born to set it right’
Hamlet
- Denmark has been thrown into chaos due to disturbance to natural order
- Burden of Hamlet to restore order/balanace
How is A3 S1 (Ophelia’s spying on Hamlet) depicted in the Kinnear National Theatre 2010 production?
- Ophelia is given a bible with a tape recorder hidden inside (so that C + P can listen to her conversation)
- Highlights religious + moral corruption of Denmark, act of spying contradictory to Christianity = disregarding divine authority
