Hamlet: Understanding King Claudius' Message
Who is speaking to whom, and what does the quote mean?
King Claudius is speaking to Hamlet in the quotation, criticizing his prolonged mourning as stubborn and impious, and urging him to accept Claudius as the new king and move on with his life.
Answer:
King Claudius is speaking to Hamlet in the quotation, criticizing his prolonged mourning as stubborn and impious, and urging him to accept Claudius as the new king and move on with his life.
The quote you have mentioned is from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, spoken by King Claudius to his nephew Hamlet. In this speech, Claudius is addressing Hamlet's persistent mourning over his father's death. He claims that while it is natural and expected for Hamlet to grieve for a certain period, the continuation of such intense sorrow is "obstinate condolement" and suggests a rebellious refusal to accept the natural order of life and death.
Essentially, Claudius is trying to persuade Hamlet to move on with his life and embrace Claudius as the new king, but also branding prolonged grief as a form of disobedience and stubbornness that goes against religious and social expectations.