Question

As King Claudius’ speaks to members of his court, his introductory remarks reveal personal acts whose strangeness is apparent in the antithesis of his speech ("with mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage") before he gets around to addressing the political issue at hand. Using the royal "we" in his first statement to the court, what does he say he has done? When has he done this? What do you think of the timing of his marriage?

Answer 1

King Claudius uses the royal 'we' in 'Hamlet' to emphasize his dual actions of mourning his brother's death and marrying his widow shortly thereafter, raising questions about the appropriateness of the timing.

Step-by-step explanation:

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, King Claudius makes use of the royal "we" to articulate the duality of his actions: mourning his brother's death while simultaneously celebrating his own marriage to the widow, which for some could be seen as an act of political consolidation rather than genuine affection. This juxtaposition of 'mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage' highlights the contrast between what would be considered proper mourning behavior and the hastiness of his nuptials. He has done this shortly after the King's death, which is reflected in the tension between the need for stable leadership and the seeming disrespect for the mourning period.

Answer 2

Taking over the Kingdom and the Queen

Step-by-step explanation:

King Claudius addresses the court as the new king, informing how he, in the time of deep sorrow over the death of his brother, 'fought discretion with nature' to continue with the affairs of the state since it was monumental loss, yet the state must have a king. Taking the welfare of the 'warlike' state into account, Claudius marries his brother's wife, 'the imperial jointress' and hence he says he has done a right thing. Though he calls it 'a defeated joy' with a dropping eye, he usurps the kingdom very smartly. Claudius is quick in marrying his brother's wife since both 'funeral' and 'marriage' go simultaneously. Claudius's hurry in marriage is a scheme in taking the queen to his side in order to isolate Hamlet, the rightful heir and to prove to the world how much he cares about the kingdom and his dead brother.