Act 1, Scene 2

The Tragedy of Hamlet is an original play by Shakespeare and is set in the ancient kingdom of Denmark. The play is about the revenge of a prince after his family members, including the king, King Hamlet, were murdered by his uncle, Claudius, so that he could inherit the throne as well as the wives of his kinsmen. The play culminates when the young king finally kills Claudius and manages to take back the thrown of his father. The theme of the play is that of revenge, family ties and corruption. It is Shakespeare's longest play. A BRIEF SUMMARY

Claudius Intelligent and well-spoken Manipulative and dangerous nature Conscience is what makes him such a complex villain SOAPS: SPEAKER

Claudius has just recently killed his brother, King Hamlet He also has just married Hamlet’s widow, Gertrude, who is the mother of Prince Hamlet SOAPS: OCCASION

Claudius is addressing the court, and, more specifically, Prince Hamlet Prince Hamlet is grieving his father’s death and in need of reassurance SOAPS: AUDIENCE

To give closure to the situation of Hamlet’s death To reassure the court and Prince Hamlet that all was well To articulate his plans regarding Fortinbras SOAPS: PURPOSE

King Hamlet’s death Claudius’ marriage to Gertrude Claudius’ plans regarding Fortinbras SOAPS: SUBJECT

THE SPEECH watch?v=yrfUawdF2Co

“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, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him, Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, The imperial jointress to this warlike state, Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,-- With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole,-- Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along. For all, our thanks. Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, Holding a weak supposal of our worth, Or thinking by our late dear brother's death Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, Colleagued with the dream of his advantage, He hath not fail'd to pester us with message, Importing the surrender of those lands Lost by his father, with all bonds of law, To our most valiant brother. So much for him. Now for ourself and for this time of meeting: Thus much the business is: we have here writ To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,-- Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears Of this his nephew's purpose,--to suppress His further gait herein; in that the levies, The lists and full proportions, are all made Out of his subject: and we here dispatch You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand, For bearers of this greeting to old Norway; Giving to you no further personal power To business with the king, more than the scope Of these delated articles allow. Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.” SPEECH IN TEXT

Claudius appeals to ethos in the beginning, admitting that he himself still has fresh memories of his brother, and saying that it was proper to mourn Hamlet’s death He quickly shifts gears though, adding that life still goes on and that one should mourn while also thinking about their own well being RHETORIC

Claudius then talks of his marriage to Gertrude, using more ethos but also some pathos He admits to having mixed feelings of happiness and sadness, appealing to ethos by informing the audience of his struggles with marrying his brother’s widow The audience also can attempt to relate to him emotionally, appealing to pathos RHETORIC

He then uses heavy pathos, establishing himself as a worthy king by detailing his plans for Fortinbras He refuses to surrender any territory gained previously by his brother, bolstering his reputation as a strong leader RHETORIC

Claudius’ speech starts off with a melancholy tone as he addresses King Hamlet’s death. “Together with remembrance of ourselves.” King Hamlet was one of the people. Shifts to commanding as Claudius brings up Fortinbras and how to deal with him. They will not stand for this. Claudius speaks condescendingly regarding Fortinbras. “Colleagued with the dream of his advantage.” TONE

“That we with wisest sorrow think on him” Alliteration “Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, the imperial jointress of this war-like state “ Personification “Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy, with one auspicious and one dropping eye” Oxymoron “With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, in equal scale weighing delight and dole” Antithesis Mirth is laughter and dirge is a funeral hymn DICTION

“Thus much the business is: we have here writ to Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras” Personification “Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, holding a weak supposal of our worth, or thinking by our late dear brother's death, our state to be disjoint and out of frame, colleagued with the dream of his advantage, he hath not fail'd to pester us with message, importing the surrender of those lands” Periodic sentence DICTION

"An Analysis of Claudius, Hamlet's Uncle." Claudius, Hamlet's Uncle. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare." The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct "Hamlet: Quotes." Hamlet: Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct "William Shakespeare." - Biography and Works. Search Texts, Read Online. Discuss. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct WORKS CITED