Act 3 Scene 3

Question 1

‘O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t’

Answer 1

Claudius’ geniune desperation seen in the apostrophe. Links to the curse on Cain, who became the world’s first murderer by killing his brother Abel.
C’s regicide and fratricide - Great Chain of Being

Question 2

‘like a man to double business bound’

Answer 2

Claudius as conflicted between his desire to repent for his sins and his happiness at being king

Question 3

‘rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow’

Answer 3

Claudius desires forgiveness for his sins through image of purity - not really sorry?

Question 4

‘My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen’

Answer 4

Triplicate - sense of possession
Claud has no intention of giving up his kingdom. Gertrude placed at the end shows she is the least important to him.

Question 5

‘heart with strings of steel’

Answer 5

Claudius is aware of his corruption and his struggle to repent/ be remorseful - seen through metaphor

Question 6

‘My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go’

Answer 6

Claud asks for redemption but his true thoughts are sinful so he won’t be forgiven. In Tennant’s version, on the final line, he looks to the camera and smirks - feigning guilt - sinister/evil/machiavellian
AO5 - Arnold