Corruption Flashcards
What is the first paragraph for corruption?
An incorruptible friendship vs a corrupted friendship
What is the critic for An incorruptible friendship vs a corrupted friendship?
(“The amicita vertecta between Hamlet and Horato thus exposes the cynical and corrupted
version of friendship offered by R+G .) their friendship and their virtue have been corrupted, like so much else at the Danish court, by the malign influence of Claudius.” (Katy Limmer)
What is the first quote for An incorruptible friendship vs a corrupted friendship?
Hamlet - “Give me that man/ That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him/In my heart’s core.”
What is the analysis for “Give me that man/ That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him/In my heart’s core.”
As Hamlet flatters Horatio, he describes what Horatio is NOT with a metaphor of a slave, subservient to passion. Horatio’s ‘blood and judgement are so well commeddled/ That they are not a pipe for Fortune’s finger’ to play whatever sound she pleases. Again, this emphasises Horatio’s stoic nature and Inability to be corrupted by even fortune, which is personitied to portray it as someone able to corrupt and manipulate men. Therefore, Horatio is an incorruptible man in a corrupt state, certainly not prone to being controlled by Claudius, just as R+G are.
What is the second quote for An incorruptible friendship vs a corrupted friendship?
Hamlet - ‘He keeps them, like an ape, an apple, in the corner of his jaw first mouthed to be last swallowed”.
What is the analysis for ‘He keeps them, like an ape, an apple, in the corner of his jaw first mouthed to be last swallowed”.
The zoomorphic simile ‘in the same way as an ape keeps a piece of apple’ (tucked in cheek to consume later), Portrays Claudius as a primitive primate and Rosencrantz & Guildenster as food to he chewed un and used for his nourishment benefit (this is insulting for all three). The alliteration on ‘a’ emphasises this derogatory zoomorphic simile, reinforcing its meaning. The metaphor from the semantic field of consumption implies the derogatory meaning that they are just food, destroyed to serve the King’s need, as the antithesis increases the impact of the insult by drawing attention to the suggestion that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will be the first to be put to use but the last to be of any value to the King
What does Hamlet describe R+G as?
‘sponges’ that ‘soak up the King’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities’.
What is the analysis for ‘sponges’ that ‘soak up the King’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities’?
The extended metaphor of a sponge reflects the characters of R+G, as a sponge is associated as being an object which absorbs anything poured into it, to then be used by a person to clean up dirt. Therefore R+G are comparable to a pliable object with little character of their own. used to bertorm ‘dirty tasks’ that Claudius. their superior does not wish to do himself. Also, to sponge on someone means to rely on someone else’s resources for their own profit. Therefore, the tricolon of ‘countenance’, ‘rewards’ and ‘profits’ in an asyndetic list emphasises R+G as inferiors who are willing to sacrifice terr rendshio in exchange for shallow outs worn monetary and social value. The metaphor is therefore derogatory and dehumanising to emphasise R+Gs corruption.
What is the context for ‘sponges’ that ‘soak up the King’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities’?
During the Elizabethan era there was a strict social hierarchy, with God at the top, followed by the monarch and then nobility. This was known as The Great Chain of being. Therefore, the fact that Rosencratz and Guildenstern, being courtiers, seek to serve the king would not be surprising to a contemporary audience. However, as Limmer argues, the male Renaissance model of friendship could only be achieved when ‘both men possess incorruptible virtue’ Therefore the portrayal of R+G’s corrupt offer of friendship vs Haratio’s friendship conveys the seriousness with which their betrayal would have been felt by both Hamlet and an Elizabethan audience.
What is the second paragraph for corruption?
The corruption of family relationships
What is the critic for The corruption of family relationships?
Power and politics evidently trump family values in Claudius’ Denmark’ (Richard Vardy)
What is does Polonius say when asserting Claudius that is in The corruption of family relationships?
‘I have a daughter- have while she is mine-/ Who in her duty and obedience, mark,/ Hath given me this’
analysis for ‘I have a daughter- have while she is mine-/ Who in her duty and obedience, mark,/ Hath given me this’?
Polonius sees his daughter as property to be utilised for his own personal and social gain, thus exposing their father-daughter relationship as corrupted by ‘politics and power’. To Claudius, he asserts: ‘I have a daughter- have while she is mine-/ Who in her duty and obedience, mark,/ Hath given me this’ [Hamlet’s love letter]. The possessive pronoun ‘mine’, as well as the connotations of submission in ‘obedience’ and ‘duty, emphasise their relationship as unbalanced. where conella is used as a pawn in Polonius pursuit of power.
What is the context for ‘I have a daughter- have while she is mine-/ Who in her duty and obedience, mark,/ Hath given me this’
During the Elizabethan era, women were taught they were inferior to men. Acts of disobedience to their husbands and brothers were not only viewed as socially unacceptable, but a crime against their religion. The Church firmly believed this and quoted the bible to ensure this principle was adhered by. The Scottish protestant leader John Knox wrote: “Women in her greatest perfection were made to serve and obey man.” For this reason, a woman who showed disobedience was punished (usually by whipping).
What does Polonius ask Hamlet and his reply regarding The corruption of family relationships?
Polonius asks ‘do you know me, me lord?’ to which Hamlet responds with the ironic remark, ‘You are a fishmonger.”
