Question

Claudius: ’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, your father lost a father; That father lost, lost his; and the survivor bound In filial obligation for some term To do obsequious sorrow; but to persevere In obstinate condolement is a course Of impious stubbornness, ’tis unmanly grief –Hamlet, William Shakespeare. How does Shakespeare characterize Claudius in this passage.

Answer 1

Claudius is characterized as a practical and rational leader in Shakespeare's Hamlet, admonishing excessive grief as unmanly and prioritizing the state's well-being over personal sorrow.

Step-by-step explanation:

• In the passage from William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Claudius characterizes himself as a practical and rational leader.
• He acknowledges Hamlet's grief as 'sweet and commendable' but then admonishes it as excessive and 'unmanly'.
• Claudius emphasizes the natural order of father-to-son death, implying that Hamlet's prolonged mourning is unnecessary and even disrespectful towards the cycle of life and the obligations of the living.
• This highlights Claudius's inclination to maintain a strong front and to encourage others to move on quickly from personal tragedies, for the sake of order and strength within the kingdom.
• His characterization in this passage leans towards a pragmatic ruler who prioritizes the well-being and stability of the state over individual sorrows.

Answer 2

Claudius is detached and critical.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given excerpt, Claudius is speaking to Hamlet in Act 1, Scene 2 of the play. In this Scene, King Claudius reveals to his courtiers about his marriage to Gertrude, his brother's wife, Old King Hamlet.

King Claudius in a very cold manner questions Hamlet that why is he still mourning the death of his father. He says that everyone loses a father and mourning should not be for a long period. He criticizes Hamlet for mourning too much.

We can also see that Claudius is detached and do not feel the pain of Hamlet.

So, the characterization of Claudius in this passage is Detached and critical.