Read the excerpt from Act IV of Hamlet.
Claudius: He made confession of you,
And gave you such a masterly report
For art and exercise in your defence,
And for your rapier most especially,
That he cried out, ’twould be a sight indeed
If one could match you; the scrimers of their nation,
He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye,
If you oppos’d them. Sir, this report of his
Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy
That he could nothing do but wish and beg
Your sudden coming o’er, to play with him.
Which correctly evaluates Shakespeare’s use of theme in the passage?
A.) When Claudius uses flattery to convince Laertes to kill Hamlet, Shakespeare emphasizes the theme “Pride leads to downfall.”
B.) By having Claudius compliment Laertes, Shakespeare introduces the theme “Love is possible in the face of despair.”
C.) By comparing Laertes’s expertise to Hamlet’s jealousy, Shakespeare emphasizes the theme “Jealousy leads to failure.”
D.) When Claudius reveals Hamlet’s feelings for Laertes, Shakespeare illustrates the theme “Truth is hard to see.”
