"More than kin and less than kind"

[Kristen/Curston]

For those who are interested in or are studying uncle Shakespeare's
Hamlet,here's a little note on this qoute.
Enjoy!!!!
"A little more than kin and less than kind" is Prince Hamlet's withering
assessment of his relationship to the new king of Denmark,his uncle
Claudius.Claudius-who has secretly poisoned Hamlet's father-sleazily
ingratiates himself to the mourning prince with rhetorical appellatives
like "my cousin Hamlet,and my son."Hamlet mutters that Claudius is more
than "kin"(more than a "cousin"because he is now his stepfather),but
definitely less than "kind."

"kind" has a triple meaning here,as often in SS(Shakespeare).On one
hand,Hamlet says that Claudius is less than a direct blood relative,"kind"
meaning "ancestral stock."On the other hand,Hamlet refers to what he sees
as Claudius' unnatural lust,"kind" meaning "natural."Finally,Hamlet
indicates his resentment toward the new king for his insensitive haste in
marrying the queen.Here,"kind" has it's modern sense:"considerate.

Hamlet pushes the black humour further in responding to Claudius'
reproachful comment on his clouded disposition."I am too much in the sun"
plays on the sun/son pun which an audience could not miss.

Being a literature student,I hope that entries on commentaries on SS's
plays would be sent in more often.I hope that this piece of info. has been
of some help to those studying HAMLET.

Curston
<foc6...@mbox2.singnet.com.sg>
<horne...@hotmail.com>

Want more of such stuffs???

[Robert Gras]

Kristen/Curston wrote:
>
(snip)

"On the other hand,Hamlet refers to what he sees
> as Claudius' unnatural lust,"kind" meaning "natural."

I was not aware of "kind" used in this sense. Can you provide other
examples of such usage?

>
> Want more of such stuffs???

Very interesting. I, for one, would very much like "more of such
stuffs."

Bob :>