Claudius

Question 1

One of H’s first lines in the play

Answer 1

“A little more than kin, and less than kind”
Alienating himself from him – disturbed at the ‘wicked speed’ of C and G’s marriage

He refers to Claudius as “more than kin” because he is now his uncle and step father, and I would take “less than kind” at face value, although some interpret “kind” as “natural” because of Shakespeare’s use of the word elsewhere.

Question 2

Comparison with OH to C

Answer 2

‘No more like my father than I to Hercules’

‘Hyperion to a satyr’

Showing his inferiority

Question 3

C’s duplicity

Answer 3

“O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!”

Claudius’ political nature

Question 4

Criticising his rowdy lifestyle

Answer 4

“Keeps wassail” “drains his draughts of Rhenish down”

Irony that the ‘son’ is rendering father’s behaviour unacceptable

Question 5

Numerous negative characteristics of C

Answer 5

“Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!”

Irony lies in his remorseless treatment of Polonius

Question 6

When Claudius leaves the Mousetrap

Answer 6

“what, frighted with false fire!”

When Claudius leaves the Mousetrap Hamlet mocks him