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Match the characters in Hamlet to their attributes.

Claudius
Gertrude
Ophelia
Hamlet
a) Respect for her father
b) Guilt
c) Desire for revenge
d) Mixed loyalties

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Claudius is associated with guilt, Gertrude with mixed loyalties, Ophelia with respect for her father, and Hamlet with a desire for revenge. These characters' attributes touch upon one aspect of each persona, but the depth and complexity of Shakespeare's characters provide room for various interpretations and critical analyses.

Step-by-step explanation:

When matching the characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet to their attributes, Claudius is best suited to (b) Guilt, as he is the one who murders King Hamlet to usurp the throne. Gertrude's attribute is (d) Mixed loyalties since she marries Claudius after her husband's death, which could be seen as an act of betrayal to Hamlet, but she is also viewed as someone torn between her new husband and her son. Ophelia embodies (a) Respect for her father, as she is largely obedient to Polonius' wishes. Lastly, Hamlet is most aligned with (c) Desire for revenge, driven by the need to avenge his father's murder.

The characterization and motives in Hamlet are complex; the attributes provided here address just one facet of each character. Indeed, characters like Gertrude and Ophelia often leave critics debating their roles as weak, villainous, or constrained heroines within a patriarchal society. The analysis of these characters can vary widely and is further complicated by the examination of the play's historical context and the possible symbolism it holds, such as the ghost of Old Hamlet representing the oppression of Catholics or the play's commentary on a mother's guilt over her son.

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