Hamlet 1.2 Quotes Flashcards
lots of people
therfore a more generally appealing speech
though
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death - Claud
through - undermining, coordinating cojunction, not main argument. brother’s death - manipulating people
green
The memory be green and that it us befitted - Claud
green - colour imagery renewal and success
hearts
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom - Claud
personification of kingdom, royak plural
sister
sometime sister, now our queen - Claud
incestuous
mirth
With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, - Claud
skillful politician as he seamlessly blends opposites and manipulates people with language
- monologue establishing his political authority and legitimacy.
Initial topic: tribute to his brother and old king.
Second, more developed topic: the threat of Fortinbras and how to handle him.
ambiguous deliberate
relationship bw gertrude and claud
taken
Taken to wife - claud
latinate syntax - power over language
for all
for all - claud
The short declarative statement suggests that Claudius automatically expects a united understanding from the nation without hearing their concerns or opinions as though he believes the public’s viewpoints are invalidated and inferior to his own.
juxtaposing soliloquy
Claudius’ long speech (not broken up by stage 2) could be compared to a soliloquy with a harsh juxtaposition.
The length of Claudius speaking, and the expression of his emotions show him to be so skilful politically.
> > he makes himself appear as he is talking from the heart - so much so he could be alone on stage - like a soliloquy
// in reality could not be further from the truth = packed stage, and an audience he is very much aware of.
Superbly noted contrast between the emotion typically associated with a soliloquy and his political purpose as a kingly figure on stage, commanding two audiences - Elsinore and that of the Globe. Great example of dramatic effect.
follows
Now follows that you know
This short, declarative statement signifies the change in subject of Claudius’ speech. This demonstrates the King’s power over the scene, and over language in general.
September 19, 2023 at 12:13 PM
Daisy Drury
… Claudius’ speech transitions from a public display of mourning to a political exposition of Elsinore. The fact that these two crucial subjects within the play are summarised by the King within one monologue further demonstrates his prowess in speech and apparent wisdom. At this point in the play, it suggests that Claudius is a good king and makes the revelation of his betrayal even more shocking.
September 19, 2023 at 1:30 PM
David Clej (Staff)
Superbly put - we might also note that the external threat of Fortinbras is given slightly more lines than the previous one of “I’m marrying my sister-in-law”.
dear
Our dear late brother’s death
‘dear brother’, ‘valiant brother’. False flattery is evidence of Claudius’ duplicity. Keeps up appearances, Disconnect with his true opinion.
September 19, 2023 at 3:04 PM
Francesca Samat
Repetitive use of adjectives before referring to his brother is evidence of overcompensation. Insincere?
September 19, 2023 at 3:06 PM
David Clej (Staff)
Definitely, especially in the way they function almost as heroic epithets (AO2). In ancient Greek and Roman epic poems, characters are often known, very consistently, by their epithets as well as their names. Odysseus is “Crafty Odysseus”; Achilles is “Swift-footed Achilles”; Hector is “the tamer of horses”… Claudius thus consistently brings together
September 19, 2023 at 4:30 PM
David Clej (Staff)
…the classical language (see Paul Cantor) and his tribute to a conveniently dead King. It’s convenient to praise a dead rival because… they’re dead - no political threat - and it makes Claudius look politically savvy, in that he’s praising his predecessor.
September 19, 2023 at 4:32 PM
David Clej (Staff)
Oh, contrast with “Young” Fortinbras, earlier described as “unimproved mettle, hot and full”
September 19, 2023 at 4:34 PM
purpose
Of this his newphew’s purpose - Claud
personifies Norway and critiques it. The association of Norway with being ‘impotent’ and ‘bedrid’, commonly words associated with the elderly or unwell, further exemplifies Claudius’ aim to be seen as the superior, unbreakable leader (and by extension ‘state’). By suggesting that Norway is elderly, he puts forward the idea that it is out of date/unfit/undue respect- not normal for an ‘uncle.’
September 19, 2023 at 3:14 PM
David Clej (Staff)
frontispiece of Leviathan, a book on the importance of supreme monarchy as a way to control our inherently corrupt species, according to its author Thomas Hobbes. Notice what the ‘King’ is made up of. C.f. Act 4: Claudius panics that Hamlet “like a hectic [fever] in my blood/rages”
cornelius
You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand, - Claud
Function purely as ambassadors and therefore hints of the wider political landscape of northern Europe
Voltemand and Cornelius
*…exit
The exit of Voltemand and Cornelius signifies the shift in both focus and tone of the scene (from political discussions to the more personal matter of Laertes’ education).
September 19, 2023 at 2:55 PM
David Clej (Staff)
Especially in contrast to Hamlet; Laertes leaves in 1.3 only to return in revenging rage in Act 4. His departure and re-entrance are of decisive, single-minded action, not deliberative speechmaking
soviet
It’s definitely expected of a king that he, as we continue to use the phrase now, “holds court”. However, you could make a brief reference in a Part A how it’s unclear/ambiguous how happy the audience of Elsinore is with all this. In a Part B, you could reference different films: Branagh’s 1996 features a sumptuous palatial setting and celebration of Claudius’s marriage, whereas Kozinstev’s 1964 adaptation emphasises Claudius’s greed and corruption, drinking and eating. (That film was made in the Soviet Union, so…)
