Claudius Quotes and Critics Flashcards
3.3- after his soliloquy
My words fly up; my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
1.2- Claudius’ first lines
The memory be green… and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
1.2- Claudius addresses the court
Or thinking that by our late brother’s death
Our state be disjoint and out of frame
1.2- describing his marriage
as ‘twere with a defeated joy, …
With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage,
1.2- Claudius acting politically for the good of Denmark
we have here writ
To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,
1.2- Claudius talks to Hamlet about his father’s grief 1
But you must know, your father lost a father;
1.2- Claudius talks to Hamlet about his father’s grief 2
‘Tis unmanly grief;
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
… Fie! ‘tis a fault to heaven,
A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,
To reason most absurd, whose common theme
Is death of fathers, …
1.2- Claudius urges Hamlet to think of him as a father
...think of us As of a father; ... ...with no less nobility of love Than that which dearest father bears his son Do I impart toward you.
2.2- Recruiting Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
…gather
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus
That, open’d, lies within our remedy.
(2.2- Agreeing to use Ophelia to spy on Hamlet)
We will try it.
3.1- Claudius comments on Hamlet’s madness
Grating so harshly all his days of quiet
With turbulent and dangerous lunacy
3.1- Claudius describes himself and Claudius
Lawful espials
3.1- Claudius implies guilt
The harlot’s cheek, beautified with plastering art,
Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it
Than is my deed to my most painted word.
O heavy burden!
3.1- Claudius comments on how he shall track Hamlet’s madness
Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.
3.2- Claudius’ reaction to The Mousetrap
Give me some light
3.3- Claudius’ excuse for his treatment of Hamlet
The terms of our estate may not endure
Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow
Out of his brows.
3.3- Claudius plans action against Hamlet
For we will fetters put about this fear
Which now goes too free-footed
4.1- Claudius referring to his soul after hearing Hamlet has killed Polonius
My soul is full of discord and dismay
4.3- When ordering Hamlet to England to be killed
For like the hectic in my blood he rages
And thou must cure me
4.7- Claudius talks of his love for Gertrude to Laertes
She’s so conjunctive to my life and soul
That as the stars move not but in his sphere
I could not but buy her
4.7- Claudius riles up Laertes so he will fight Hamlet
Was your father dear to you?
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
A face without a heart?
Schofield on Claudius’ morality
He has the persuasiveness and physical courage of a rule, but is morally empty
Dawson on Claudius’ love for Gertrude
He loved Gertrude deeply and genuinely
Thomas Hamner on Hamlet’s actions in 3.3
Unworthy of a hero
Kate Flint on Hamlet’s inactivity in 3.3
He himself is literally no better than the sinner whom he is to punish
Wilson Knight on Claudius in 1930
A good and gentle King
Amanda Mabillard on Claudius
He is not a monster, he is morally weak
