People like to say things that have double meanings, like inside jokes or saying things that actually has more depth to it than one can normally perceive. In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, the main character, Hamlet, talks about things by often times using double meanings. He may say things in a certain way so that way he would not get in trouble. Or, Hamlet may also say things that have more depth to them so that way he could hide what he means, especially when he is speaking with King Claudius. Hamlet’s use of double meanings in his speech plays an important role throughout the play, adding depth to his character and making the play more thought provoking. In addition, it reveals the relationship of hatred between King Claudius
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It is interesting how Hamlet starts out by using double meanings, and especially in his opening lines. This quote takes place when Hamlet is in the king’s court, and the king is giving Laertes his blessing to go back to France. After that, Hamlet mutters,”A little more than kin and less than kind” (1.2.65). Hamlet is overall commenting about the king and his mother’s incestous marriage. King Claudius has become more than just his “kin” which is family and turned into less of his “kind.” The “less than kind” means that Claudius has become Hamlet’s stepfather, but will never be Hamlet’s real father. Hamlet uses “kind” to say that he does not want Claudius to be a part of his life, and also in the more colloquial and familiar sense that he does not like the new king. He is saying that he is going to be “less than kind” to King …show more content…
Hamlet may use double meanings to add to King Claudius’s frustration or he may also do this to shade the truth, as he did when he was asked about the death of Polonius. This is different from the other times that he may use puns or double meanings because he may be witty for self-amusement or to just play with other people, but when he uses double meanings with King Claudius, Hamlet reveals the truth of how much he hates the king for what he has done to him by killing King Hamlet and marrying
It is interesting how Hamlet starts out by using double meanings, and especially in his opening lines. This quote takes place when Hamlet is in the king’s court, and the king is giving Laertes his blessing to go back to France. After that, Hamlet mutters,”A little more than kin and less than kind” (1.2.65). Hamlet is overall commenting about the king and his mother’s incestous marriage. King Claudius has become more than just his “kin” which is family and turned into less of his “kind.” The “less than kind” means that Claudius has become Hamlet’s stepfather, but will never be Hamlet’s real father. Hamlet uses “kind” to say that he does not want Claudius to be a part of his life, and also in the more colloquial and familiar sense that he does not like the new king. He is saying that he is going to be “less than kind” to King …show more content…
Hamlet may use double meanings to add to King Claudius’s frustration or he may also do this to shade the truth, as he did when he was asked about the death of Polonius. This is different from the other times that he may use puns or double meanings because he may be witty for self-amusement or to just play with other people, but when he uses double meanings with King Claudius, Hamlet reveals the truth of how much he hates the king for what he has done to him by killing King Hamlet and marrying