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

Answer:

Shakespeare characterizes Claudius cruel and cold-hearted.

Explanation:

For him losing a father is natural and the mourning period should last for some time for the sake of convention. It is normal to grieve but for him Hamlet is overdoing it and he is therfore not manly enough. Being a ruler in Claudius mind means being emotionless and he sees Hamplet as whimp, filled with trifle feelings of sadness.

Answer 2

Answer:

Claudius is detached and critical.

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.