Hamlet: Corruption Flashcards
‘Something is _________ in the ______ of __________’
‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’
A1 S4
- Denmark rotten to the core/at the heart of the play
‘O, my _________ is rank, it _______ to _________;’
‘O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;’
A3 S3 Claudius
‘I’ll __________ my ___________ to him’
‘I’ll loose my daughter to him’
Polonius
‘Hamlet is in fact the _______ in the ____ of the _____________’
‘Hamlet is in fact the poison in the veins of the community’
G.W Knight (20th)
‘Corruption within the ________ framework of a _________ is highlighted’
‘Corruption within the political framework of a kingdom is highlighted’
Alexander (19th)
‘His means of ________ however are totally ________’
‘His means of actions however are totally corrupt’ (Polonius)
Rebecca Smith (20th)
‘tis an ___________ garden… things _____ and _______ in nature __________ it merely.”
“tis an unweeded garden … things rank and gross in nature possess it merely.”
A1 S2 Hamlet
- Description of Denmark
- Merely = completely
- Weeds unwanted/hard to remove/deep like corruption in court
‘The _________ that did ______ thy father’s _____ now _______ his _______.’
“The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown.”
A1 S5 (Ghost)
- Biblical connotations of ‘snake’ (deception/corruption)
- Breaking of the divine right of kings
‘And ___ not ________ the ________ on the ______ and make them _______’
‘And do not spread the compost on the weeds and make them ranker’
A3 S4 (Hamlet)
- Recurring metaphor of garden
- Refusal to repent for sins will only make them worse/dirtier
- Do not facilitate corruption as it will only worsen the state
‘___________ is ________ empty’
‘Claudius is morally empty’
Schofield (20th)
Kenneth Branagh 1996 production, Claudius’ coronation
A1 S2:
- Large, public ceremony where Claudius is crowned king
- Pompous/excessive display of power and authority
- Big fanfare and confetti (perhaps him attempting to affirm his power)
‘let not the ______ bed of Denmark become a couch for _________ and damned _____’
‘let not the royal bed of Denmark become a couch for luxury and damned incest’
(Hamlet)
- Opposing the relationship between Gertrude + Claudius
Importance of setting in RSC 2025 Luke Thallon production
- Entire play occurs on a boat/ship
- Reflects the constant instability of Denmark, claustrophobia of Denmark
- Adds to the intensity
Date production was set and its importance (RSC 2025 Luke Thallon production)
- 1912
- Same year titanic sank = suggests inevitable doom of the court
- Prior to WW1 = reflects impending invasion/war with Norway
After Polonius’ death in RSC 2025 Luke Thallon production
A3 S4:
- Hamlet covered in Polonius’ blood + smears onto himself and Gertrude (sharing in his death with her/painting her as an accomplice)
- Gertrude wearing white dress + he smears onto Gertrudes chest/heart (showing her own corruption, stained with death/immorality)
How does the casting of the Ghost and Claudius in the 2009 Tennant production blur the lines between good and evil?
He is played by the same actor
‘you cannot ________ upon me’
‘you cannot play upon me’
- Hamlet to Guildenstern
- Recorder is an extended metaphor for lack of autonomy (instrument)
- Hamlet claiming he cannot be lied to/manipulated
‘scurvy ____________ who does not practice what he __________’
‘scurvy politician who does not practice what he preaches’ (Polonius)
Bate (21st)
‘A ______________ schemer who takes his plotting to absurd ______________’
‘A Machiavellian schemer who takes his plotting to absurd proportions’ (Polonius)
Hartwig (19th)
‘that was to this ___________ to a _______’
‘that was to this Hyperion to a satyr’
- Classical reference
- Comparing his father to a sun-God (Hyperion) vs Claudius to a half-goat creature (satyr)
- Highlighting the stark contrast between the mean
‘________ and gentle ______’
‘good and gentle king’
GW Knight (20th)
‘The __________ and lecherousness of Claudius’ _______ has ____________ the whole ________________ of Denmark’
‘The cunning and lecherousness of Claudius’ evil has corrupted the whole kingdom of Denmark’
Altick (20th)
‘______ is out of _____, O cursed ______ that I was ______ to set it right’
‘time is out of joint, O cursed spite that I was born to set it right’
Hamlet
- Denmark has been thrown into chaos due to disturbance to natural order
- Burden of Hamlet to restore order/balanace
How is A3 S1 (Ophelia’s spying on Hamlet) depicted in the Kinnear National Theatre 2010 production?
- Ophelia is given a bible with a tape recorder hidden inside (so that C + P can listen to her conversation)
- Highlights religious + moral corruption of Denmark, act of spying contradictory to Christianity = disregarding divine authority
