Question

hamlet, act i, scene ii
the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark, act i,
scene ii
by william shakespeare
as you read, highlight dialogue that provides insight into the speaker’s character.
king claudius, hamlet’s uncle, has
married hamlet’s mother.
act i. scene ii.
in this part of the play, king hamlet’s brother, claudius, is now
king of denmark. he has married queen gertrude, the former
king’s wife and prince hamlet’s mother. in a speech to the
--hamlet,
william shakespeare
how does shakespeare characterize claudius in this passage?
claudius is lighthearted and joyful.
claudius is warm and fatherly
claudius is detached and critical.
claudius is distraught and mournful.

Explanation:

In Act I, Scene ii of Hamlet, Claudius's actions (marrying Hamlet's mother shortly after King Hamlet's death) and his demeanor in addressing Hamlet's grief show a lack of empathy (detached) and he critiques Hamlet's mourning as unmanly (critical). The other options are incorrect: he is not lighthearted/joyful (he is dealing with state matters and a mourning nephew), not warm/fatherly (his relationship with Hamlet is strained), and not distraught/mournful (he is the new king, not grieving like Hamlet). So the correct characterization is "Claudius is detached and critical."

Answer:

Claudius is detached and critical.