Character inter-relationships and thematic development

Question 1

Hamlet’s relationship with Claudius: “a little more than kin, a little less than kind”

Answer 1

A02: H’s opening line uses wordplay to amuse audience, endear H to them as tragic protagonist and show his intellect; ‘more than kin’ implies Claudius is too close in the family, having married G, for H’s liking; ‘less than kind’ has a polysemy suggesting his cruel nature, suggesting his future antagonistic role within the RT genre to the audience, and a suggestion that H sees C as almost a different species, emphasisng his deep antipathy towards him. A05: Godwin production- spoken loudly, confrontationally; Essiedu’s Hamlet more mercurial and combative than Branagh’s, who speaks it more as an aside, quiet and sombre to emphasise his depth of mourning in contrast to Claudius’ apparent lack of feeling towards his dead brother.

Question 2

Hamlet’s attitude to Claudius