Preparing for the IB Individual Oral Commentary Notes on a selected passage from Hamlet Act 1, scene 2 lines 1 2!

! Claudius" rhetorical speech to the court Introduction! #ive conte$t this scene presents us with a dramatic contrast from the opening scene. We have moved from a remote part of Elsinore high on the battlements to a room of state to the centre of the castle; we have moved from darkness, disorder and the spectral appearance of the dead King amlet to apparent brightness, order and the ver! solid appearance of "enmark#s newl! crowned King $laudius. We witness $laudius# first speech as King of "enmark to the assembled "anish court. is speech is highl! rhetorical; his agenda is both public and personal. e must attempt to gain public acceptance for his marriage to his brother#s widow, %ertrude &an act that would be deemed incestuous to the Eli'abethan audience watching this pla!(. e must be seen to be dealing with the imminent threat of attack from )ortinbras of *orwa!. %hesis+ ,n this speech, $laudius, through a number of highl! skilful rhetorical devices, succeeds in manipulating the assembled "anish courtiers. Commentary -oint Effect&s( $laudius makes e.tensive use of /. e immediatel! establishes the ro!al plural point out himself as King he has e.amples in the passage slid into this new role with consummate ease. e stamps his authorit! on the court and countr!. 0. ,t unites him with the courtiers who ma! be skeptical and1or disapproving of his union with %ertrude. 2. ,t consolidates his union with %ertrude the! have made all these decisions 3ointl! and for the good of the countr!. $laudius uses a se4uence of carefull! considered transitional phrases+ point them out+ 5hough ; 6et; 5herefore /. 5hese transitional phrases create a sense of logical progression and careful consideration. 0. e has not entered into this marriage with

$laudius utili'es a number of antithetical statements point to evidence in the passage

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$laudius sums up the first part of his speech with four monos!llabic words, )or all, our thanks.

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%ertrude on the spur of the moment. 5his clever emplo!ment of antithesis elongates his speech causing a dela! before the shocking main point of this sentence+ 5aken to wife. 5he man! e.amples of contrasting language cause confusion in the listener and soften the blow of the words 5aken to wife 5he series of contrast creates a sense of $laudius with two faces, especiall! an auspicious and a dropping e!e. 5his suggests his h!pocris!. 5hese words contrast with the previous length! sentence making them stand out to the assembled courtiers and to the audience. 5he! are simple and snapp!. 5he court is given the plain message that the king is grateful to them causing them to accept what he is sa!ing. 5he! have an air of finalit! $laudius wants no further discussion on the matter of his marriage to %ertrude.

$laudius deliberatel! turns the speech to a discussion of )ortinbras

e incorporates a number of words with negative connotations to highlight that )ortinbras perceives "enmark to be a weak nation point them out in the passage

/. 7 clever move he reminds the court that the! have an enem! in common. 5he implication is that the! should unite against this common enem!. e is using )ortinbras as a diversionar! tactic. /. 5hese words would instill fear in the members of the "anish court. ,f the! are weak, the! need a strong leader and that leader is, of course, $laudius.

$laudius# use once more of four monos!llabic words to punch home his point+ 89o much for him $laudius begins to use a number of words with connotations of business

/$onclusive and dismissive; short and easil! remembered b! his listeners. 0. "emonstrates that he has absolutel! no fear of )ortinbras. / 5hese words would bring hope to the listeners perhaps war can be avoided: $laudius is going to use diplomac! as a means to prevent war this would be popular with his listeners. 0 5he! create an aura of 4uiet authorit! around $laudius, making him appear intelligent and regal in the e!es of the "anish court

Conclusion $laudius has made use of clever rhetoric to win over the "anish court, an audience that ma! have been initiall! hostile to him. 5he entire speech is an e.cellent e.ample of pretence and duplicit!. $laudius is establishing himself as an intensel! political creature who possesses ;achiavellian tendencies. 5o $laudius, ever! other character is a tool to be e.ploited to help him achieve his own ends. e has presented himself as a father to "enmark and he appears to have been accepted in that role. ,n the lines which follow this speech, he will discover that he can not manipulate amlet who is certainl! not prepared to accept him as a father.