claudius speech commentary notes

Hamlet is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare. The themes of the plot cover indecision, revenge and retribution. Prince Hamlet mourns both his father's death and his mother, Queen Gertrude's remarriage to Claudius. As a result King Claudius is forced to react to the situation in his inauguration.

Throughout history numerous kings and leaders adopt their appearance to suit their public. Either they exaggerate their abilities or they create new characteristics for their character. In act 1 scene 2 Shakespeare forces King Claudius to explain himself to the people of Denmark in order to seem as a better leader. This essay will discuss how Shakespeare manipulates his audience through language choices in the speech of King Claudius.

                By splitting the speech into 3 main parts, each with its own idea, it is easier for us to analyze this extract. The first part of the speech is from lines 1-7, and the main focus here is the death of King Hamlet. The second part begins right after on line 8 and ends in line 16. Here the subject is the marriage of King Claudius with Queen Gertrude. The last part of the speech, also the longest, talks about the politics with Norway. This begins in line 17 and ends in line 36.

Shakespeare ensures that King Claudius explains all the problems leading to his inauguration. First there is King Hamlet’s death. Towards this issue Shakespeare makes certain that King Claudius is seen as caring and sensitive by diverting the attention of the death of King Hamlet to Claudius’ reaction to the death. Shakespeare does not actually describe the death of King Hamlet or shows in any way Claudius’ point of view on the matter. Instead Shakespeare only illustrates what the public want to hear through King Claudius. This is proven by the 3^rd person point of view and the use of plural pronouns such as ‘us’, ‘we’ and ‘our’. Throughout the first 7 lines Shakespeare constantly uses “our dear brother’s death”, “it us befitted to bear our hearts in grief”. This shows how Claudius is manipulating the public into thinking he is remorseful towards his brother’s death by generalizing the ideas to suit the public. At this point in the story Hamlet still has no idea of the guilty King Claudius so is also fooled by his words. However he is still angry at his father’s death and his mother’s remarriage.

-King Claudius marriage to Queen Gertrude

-Claudius touches on the sensitive topic of incest “Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, taken to wife.”

-Shakespeare makes Claudius seem forceful and threateningà “Nor have we herein barred Your better wisdoms,” Here he is basically saying, “you are lucky you decided to accept this marriage or else…”

                     -Politics with Norway

-He is addressing the court because the king of Norway has a nephew named Fortinbras who wants the new King Claudius to return certain lands formerly given to Hamlet the Elder and now devoid of a pact any longer since the elder has died and Fortinbras is to be the new ruler and not bound by promises and treaties made by others. Claudius refuses to give in and makes the choice public with this court appearance as well as sending Cornelius and Voltimand with a letter to the old king to let him know what the nephew is doing while he is sick and old. The two courtiers have no power to negotiate, only to inform and their presence at the court of Norway will indeed require something to be done or discussed.

3rd soliloquy

·         Hamlet contemplates whether or not he should take it upon himself to act accordingly against his uncle’s crime against his own father

·         Hamlet ponders whether he should take action against his "sea of troubles" and seek revenge for his father's death or live with the pain of his father's murder

·         He also contemplates whether it is better to stay alive or commit suicide. "To die, to sleep--/No more--and by a sleep to say we end/The heartache and the thousand natural shocks/That flash is heir to--'tis a consummation/Devoutly to be wished

·         Portrays Hamlet as a sort of coward because he cannot act upon his own emotions and desires. In order to escape his heartache, he cowardly thinks about killing himself

• Line 55 - To be or not to be is an example of antithesis, a rhetorical device containing a contrast of ideas in a balanced parallel construction. The use of antithesis draws attention to the first line of the soliloquy and focuses the reader on one of the play's prominent themes.

·         Lines 59, 60, 61 - Hamlet uses metonymy, a special type of metaphor that substitutes the name of one thing with something it is closely associated with. In these examples sleep represents death.

·         Lines 57, 69 - Hamlet uses a metaphor, comparing slings and arrows and the whips and scorns of time to life's problems.

·         Lines 69-73 - Hamlet uses parallel structure, a rhetorical device comprised of phrases with like grammatical structure, to create rhythm and draw attention to life's woes.

·         Line 79 - Hamlet uses a metaphor, calling death "the undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveller returns."

·         Lines 83-84 - Suicide is referred to as "the native hue of resolution," a metaphor; the fear of death is referred to as the "pale cast of thought."

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nunnery scene

Nunnery Scene Notes

·         Act 3, scene 1

·         Ophelia is sent by Claudius and Polonius to check on the condition of Hamlet. 

·         Hamlet demanded Ophelia to go to a nunnery in sense of protection

·         Repetition of the instruction:

o   “Get thee to a nunnery” (1) “Go thy ways to a nunnery” (10) “to a nunnery, go” (21)

§  Thee refers to Ophelia

§  This phrase is used numerous times to illustrate that Hamlet is playing antic-disposition, as he adheres to his sense of protection (over Ophelia)  

·         Rhetorical questions:

o    “Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (1)

§  Taking a Christian slant – everybody is born a sinner, therefore, he tries to protect Ophelia from giving birth to sinners (which will make her a sinner) by sending her to a nunnery

§  This rhetorical question is used to illustrate that Hamlet does care for Ophelia and that he is not mad

§  Hamlet is directly stating that Ophelia is a sinner and making her feel guilty  

·         “What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven?” (8)

·         “Between earth and heaven” refers to Purgatory

·         Hamlet criticizes himself purposely saying “ What should such fellows as I”

·         This device is used to show that Hamlet is playing antic-disposition because he exaggerates the fact that he is not well 

·         Listing:

o   “I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious,” (5)

§  Shakespeare used listing to emphasize that Hamlet is mad as a result of his father’s murder and his uncle taking over his position

§  As he uses the three descriptive characteristics which symbolize

·         Proud: education

·         Revengeful: father’s death

·         Ambitious: to take the throne    

·         Simile:

o   “As chaste as ice, as pure as snow” (17)

§   Hamlet is saying to Ophelia that if she does get married she should not engage in sexual acts

§  Ophelia’s beauty overpowers honesty when looking for a guy – therefore, Ophelia needs to be careful (this causes Hamlets paranoia, demanding her to go to a nunnery)   

·         Caesuras:

o   “Get thee to a nunnery, go; farewell.”

o   Shakespeare wanted to show a sense of haste – showing true madness

·         Metaphor:

o   “What monsters you make of them”

§  Hamlet is criticizing not only Ophelia, but the woman race (misogyny) as a whole – saying that she will make her groom a ‘monster’

§  Hamlet is pretending to be mad

·         Biblical Reference:

o   “God has given you one face, and you make yourself another” (25) and “God’s creatures” (27)

§  Shakespeare uses biblical references to highlight Hamlets misogyny and his true madness

§  Hamlet is mad at Ophelia and the woman race; accusing ‘them’ that they change their personality and behavior to please others

·         Personification:

o   “Noble mind”

§  Part of Ophelia’s soliloquy

§  She is showing respect for Hamlet, however, she does believe that he has is truly mad 

claudius soliloquy

Claudius’ soliloquy

·         The one place where we learn how Claudius feels about what he has done. The rest of the play is all about how Hamlet feels about what Claudius has done.

·         Claudius is praying and confessing to his sins of the murder of his brother.

·         He gives a reason for killing Hamlet but believes that his guilt is stronger than his intentions.

·         In the next couple of lines Claudius mentions his brother’s blood. It is almost as if he is washing his hands of his brother’s blood as he is confessing in his prayers.

·         Further down the scene Claudius wants forgiveness for his murder, He knows that cannot happen because in order to receive all his possessions. The word possess’d is a pun. The word could have two meanings. For example it could mean “possessed” like the act of being or it could mean possessions as in items. The possessions that he acquired from the murder of his brother were the crown, the queen, and ambition.

·         If he receives forgiveness, Claudius is most likely to lose all that he has acquired and he doesn’t want to do that. He is presented with two choices, Claudius can repent or he can keep his commodities from his sins.

·         Claudius is in moral dilemma at this moment in the play.

·          These are the reasons why he killed the King of Denmark. As he is kneeling Claudius is praising god to repent him. He asks for forgiveness.                      

ghost scene

The Ghost Scene

·         In Act 1, scene 5

·         Ghost of his father tells Hamlet that he was murdered by poison poured into his ear by Claudius

·         The Ghost tells him to avenge Claudius and leave the judgment of his mother to heaven

·         The ghost criticizes Claudius through listing.  Hamlet labels him as an “adulterate beast, with witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, o wicked wit and gifts, that have the power so to seduce!”

·         The ghost doubts the queens self morals and dignity

·         Using the words “O” and “Ay” emphasizes the extreme emotions (sorrowful and angry) of the ghost

·         The ghost contrasts his “natural gifts” to that of Claudius’ – The King was seen to be more loyal

·         Juxtaposition:

o   “Though lewdness (bad comings) court it in a shape of heaven”

§  Meaning/purpose: the ghost claims to Hamlet that his fathers murder was an unjust debt

·         The Ghost denounces his queen in bitter terms, as she left his bed to “prey on garbage.”

o   Garbage is a metaphor for Claudius’ personality/behavior

·         From lines 65-87, the Ghost explains the story of the Kings death

·         Figurative imagery: “I scent the morning air”  - setting the scene with an innocent and pure mood

·         Juxtaposition:

o   “Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole”

§  Meaning/purpose: highlights the dreadful act of Claudius, he disturbed the Kings peace

·         Simile:

o   “That swift as quicksilver through the natural gates and alleys of the body” demonstrates that the poison rapidly killed the King

o   “And curd, like eager (acid) droppings into milk” means that the impure (eager) affected the King (pure - curd) – this quote is also a metaphor

·         Figurative Imagery:

o   “Instant tetter barked about”- refers to immediate blisters that appeared on the Kings skin from the poison

·          The Ghost lists his dispositions…“of life, of crown, of queen”

o   This was done to portray the extent of the Kings losses because of his death

·         The line with all my imperfections on my head” signifies that the Ghost is no longer superior

·         The repetition of “O horrible” stresses the Ghosts feelings towards his own death 

claudius 1st speech

Claudius’ 1^st speech- Act 1 Scene 2

The speech is divided three parts:

1.       Lines 1-7= Death of his brother

2.       Lines 8-16= Marriage to Queen Gertrude

3.       Lines 17-38= Politics

1.       Death of his brother:

In this part of the speech Claudius touches on his brother’s death.

-          “Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe,”

Claudius uses words such as “dear” and “bear our hearts in grief” to tell the people of Denmark he had no connection with the death. He begins his speech by remembering the former King with respect, thus telling the people of Denmark that he is caring and sensitive.

-          “Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him Together with remembrance of ourselves.”

2.       Marriage to Queen Gertrude:

Claudius follows on by touching on the sensitive topic of incest. In most religions marrying your dead brother’s wife is frowned upon, Claudius knows this and talks about the issue.

-          “Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, taken to wife.”

-          “Nor have we herein barred Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along. For all, our thanks.”

Claudius responds to the critic of the people of Denmark by telling them that he and the Queen are in love. On the other hand there is a bit of a threatening tone to Claudius’ words, “Nor have we herein barred Your better wisdoms,” Here he is basically saying, “you are lucky you decided to accept this marriage or else…”

3.       Politics:

Recently young Fortinbras, new King of Norway, took control of the country. To show the public Denmark’s foreign intentions Claudius needs to respond.

-          “Young Fortinbras, Holding a weak supposal of our worth Or thinking by our late brother’s death Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,”

He is addressing the court because the king of Norway has a nephew named Fortinbras who wants the new King Claudius to return certain lands formerly given to Hamlet the Elder and now devoid of a pact any longer since the elder has died and Fortinbras is to be the new ruler and not bound by promises and treaties made by others. Claudius refuses to give in and makes the choice public with this court appearance as well as sending Cornelius and Voltimand with a letter to the old king to let him know what the nephew is doing while he is sick and old. The two courtiers have no power to negotiate, only to inform and their presence at the court of Norway will indeed require something to be done or discussed.

1st soliloquy

1^st solil\oquy:

·         Hamlet begins by stating he wishes to be dead, yet he will not commit suicide for fear of everlasting punishment.

·         Scorns all that life and the world has to offer, comparing it to an unweeded garden.

·         Beginning with line 136, Hamlet curses his mother for marrying his uncle two months after his father died. Hamlet calls his father an excellent king and his uncle a scoundrel.

·         Comments that his mother's affection for his uncle increases, causing Hamlet to curse women in general.

·         Criticizes his mother's quick marriage to an inferior person so soon after his father's death.

·         Hamlet's heart his broken and must not speak of his disgust in public.

• Line 129 - Hamlet uses synechdoche, a special type of metaphor that uses a part to represent the whole or the whole to represent the parts. In this example, flesh represents physical life. His flesh melting, thawing and resolving itself into a dew is a metaphor for dying.
• Lines 135-136 - Hamlet uses a metaphor, comparing the world to an unweeded garden that produces things "rank and gross in nature."
• Line 140: Hamlet uses an allusion to compare his father to his uncle: Hyperion is the Titan god of light in Greek Mythology; satyrs are half man/half beast, usually depicted as man above the waist and a horse or goat below the waist. The implication that Claudius below the waist is a beast is a comment on the new king's lechery.
• Line 146 - Hamlet uses an apostrophe, speaking directly to "frailty." This line provides insight on Hamlet's attitude toward women.
• Line 149 - Hamlet alludes to Niobe, a character in Greek mythology, famous for her ceaseless tears following her children's death. Hamlet compares the Queen to Niobe immediately following his father's death, making her marriage to Claudius all the more despicable in Hamlet's eyes.
• Line 157 - Hamlet uses personification--incestuous sheets--to characterize her mother and her uncle's relationship. Dexterity in the same line is not void of sexual innuendo.
• Line 158 - Hamlet uses meiosis, or understatement, to end his soliloquy, stating that all this cannot come to good, a mild statement in comparison with the rest of his speech.

The red text is an extract from this site: http://www.brighthub.com/education/homework-tips/articles/58444.aspx#ixzz1H8p35uv8

Themes: Love, Revenge, Misogyny, Religion, Death and Decay