ipl-logo

A Rhetoric Analysis Of Claudius's Soliloquy '

675 Words3 Pages

In act 3, scene 3, Shakespeare reveals Claudius’s intentions and reflection on his deeds through his soliloquy. Claudius confesses that he has killed his brother, King Hamlet. His strong guilt causes him feelings of confusion. He prays to ask for forgiveness, but he is unwilling to give up the crown and the queen due to his ambitions. Through the use of imagery, allusion and rhetorical questions, Shakespeare illustrates Claudius's ambition overpowering his guilt. Claudius feels guilty for committing the murder of his brother. He begins by saying that his sin is so foul that “it smells to heaven” (36). This foul imagery reflects his remorseful actions; killing his brother for the crown and the queen. He makes an allusion to "curse of Cain, who …show more content…

His ambition overpowers everything as he wonders if he can pray for forgiveness to lose the guilty feeling. He asks another rhetorical question, wondering if there is a prayer he can say to be forgiven. He soon realizes “that cannot be” (53) because he still possess things gained that he committed the crime for. He values his crown the most, then his ambition and then his queen, in that respective order: "My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.” (55). There is also a use of antithesis “the wicked prize itself” (59) which reflects his situation where he wickedly gained prizes: the crown and the queen. He is aware that in heaven, only truth is tolerated: “There [heaven] the action lies in his true nature” (62). Claudius fears judgement and therefore, is using prayer to be forgiven from his sins; however he is aware for what is expected. He continues to ask questions to get rid of his confusion and guilt. He asks “what then? what rests?”(64) and answers that repentance may be able to help him. However, he realizes that he has already committed a sin and it is difficult to repent because his ambition is more important to him. Through the repletion of “O”, Claudius further emphasizes his regret. Furthermore, the simile and imagery, “bosom black as death” (67) to express the grief he feels. He asks for help of angels and hopes that “all may be well” (72). Through the soliloquy, Shakespeare

Show More
Related
405 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout Claudius “O my offense is rank” speech there is much figurative language used that sets the mood and tone for this passage. In this passage, it is reviled that Claudius did in fact murder his brother as he admits it in his soliloquy. The mood created in this passage is fear, guilt, regret and shame for what he has done to his brother. The figurative language and sounds contribute to the mood, the biblical parallel connects to the story as he prays for forgiveness of his sins “though my sins be a scarlet, they shall be white as snow”(Isaiah, 1:18) this gives more depth to the fact that he is finally admitting what he has done and feels guilty and is trying to be forgiven. Other figurative language used is allusions such as -“O,

Read More
1378 Words | 6 Pages

(iii.iii.56-7). At this point in time Claudius thinks about how he cannot have forgiveness and the crown. This realization is not enough for him to

Read More
741 Words | 3 Pages

Claudius is then compared to the internal organs of slaves and a man without morals, remorse or kindness (Ham.2.2.607-608). The powerful metaphors and adjectives used to describe Claudius not only express Hamlet’s intense contempt and disdain towards him, but also serve to convince Hamlet to commit murder. However, Hamlet depicts himself as a whore, a prostitute, and a swearing kitchen maid (Ham.2.2.614-616), reiterating the notion that he is worthless, as well as weak for expressing his emotions through words rather than actions. The shift from metaphors to similes indicate Hamlet’s failure to move past his cowardice and proceed with an act of revenge that would inflict

Read More
981 Words | 4 Pages

As the Prince of Denmark, he is more obsessed with flushing out Claudius’s guilt and shame into the open to move forth with revenge than affairs with the son of their past enemy,

Read More
1517 Words | 7 Pages

Claudius schemes and manipulates many people for many different reasons whether for his personal protection, sparing someone’s feelings, or to carry out a crime. This motives affect other characters causing them to do things that

Read More
633 Words | 3 Pages

He makes a promise to the ghost of his father to kill Claudius and he eventually does. When he wants revenge he says “So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word; It is 'Adieu, adieu! remember me.’

Read More
628 Words | 3 Pages

And so am I revenged. That would be scanned, a villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven” (line 74-79). Hamlet believes that Claudius is praying and doesn’t want to kill him, because he doesn’t want him to go to heaven. This inability is the tragic mistake that hamlets creates, to his soon to be

Read More
731 Words | 3 Pages

This behavior caused disrespect and cruelness. While the king is sleeping like he is in heaven Claudius took that from him and sent him into purgatory. This made Hamlet feel even more angry against his uncle and wants to put him to an end. As a result,Hamlet wants to destroy Claudius for every wrong deed he did. Canales 3 Hamlet is severely motivated into killing for his actions.

Read More
734 Words | 3 Pages

To test Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet adds a scene reenacting the murder of Hamlet’s father. Claudius abruptly leaves the play, and afterward, tries to pray. When Claudius is praying, Hamlet is considering killing him, but decides not to because he wants to kill him in sin so that he does not get a chance at last confession. They also all end up dying later in the story due to a sword fight and poison.

Read More
1534 Words | 7 Pages

What would you do if you were to be given great authority and power? There are those who would be responsible and treat such power with the utmost care, and yet there are those who would use their authority for personal gain as if it were a child ’s play toy. Corruption is everywhere; there is no limitation to where or when it can happen. One of the most notable examples of the abuse of power, and the catastrophe that can occur from the aftermath is during the Elizabethan era in England.

Read More
1932 Words | 8 Pages

Pray can I not, though inclination be as sharp as will: my stronger guilt defeats my strong intent” (III.iii.39-41). Claudius is admitting to himself that he betrayed his family murdered his brother in order to become king. Claudius and Polonius both meet their demise after countless betrayals of those who trusted

Read More
679 Words | 3 Pages

Furthermore, King Claudius’s ambitions are then revealed by himself during his soliloquy to confess his guilt to God. He comments that he is still “possess[ing] of those effects for which [he] did the murder: [his] crown, [his] own ambition, and [his] queen” and wonders, “May one be pardoned and retain th’ offense”

Read More
261 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout Hamlet, Prince Hamlet is faced against many situations that question his mental stability and ability to make decisions. His indecisiveness comes from the way he reacts to the situations he is put in and the way his mind presents these situations to him. The most important indecisive moments are Hamlet’s suicidal thoughts, his father’s ghost, and his vengeance to Claudius. When Hamlet is told by a ghost that has a resemblance of his father that Claudius had killed him, he vows to take vengeance and revenge his father’s death.

Read More
992 Words | 4 Pages

O cursed spite, That I ever was born to set it right.”- Hamlet (1/5 pg. 96). Here he questioned if he truly wanted to kill Claudius and how he ended up with the responsibility in the first place. Once again Hamlet was unsure if he is even capable of killing

Read More
1156 Words | 5 Pages

In the beginning of the play Hamlet, the main character, is struggling with events that have taken place in his life. His Father has recently died and his Uncle has now married his Mother. With sorrow and pain, Hamlet tries to understand and unravel the aberrant events that have taken place with his family. The events have amended the way Hamlet views death. After his Father’s death, Hamlet questions the afterlife; whether it offers a “peaceful slumber” or an “everlasting nightmare”.

Read More

More about A Rhetoric Analysis Of Claudius's Soliloquy '

Related Topics

Open Document