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What does Hamlet mean by this reference to Claudius in act I, scene II, of Hamlet?

A little more than kin, and less than kind

AHe and Claudius are similar in every way possible.
BHe and Claudius are relatives but not similar to each other.
CHe and Claudius both want to rule Denmark.
DHe and Claudius are similar in their hatred for Hamlet’s father.

Verified Answer :

flashwolfy

B. He and Claudius are relatives but not similar to each other.


hope this helped! :)

speakingsilis

Answer: B. He and Claudius are relatives but not similar to each other.

Explanation: In this reference, Shakespeare plays with the similar-looking words kin and kind to have Hamlet express in a witty way that although Claudius is now "a little more" than his relative (he is now his uncle and stepfather), he is "less than kind"; the word kind means at least two things: that Claudius is still not his direct ancestor and that Claudius is not a kind (considerate) person. Kind also meant gender, so it could imply that Hamlet thought his uncle was less of a man than his father. In any case, Hamlet implies that he and Claudius are not the same kind of person.

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