Hamlet

Question

by
William Shakespeare
HAMLET.
…I will bestow him, and will answer well
The death I gave him. So again good night.
I must be cruel, only to be kind;
Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.
"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
A)
Use this excerpt from
Hamlet
by WilliamShakespeare to answer the question.
Choose the answer that best interprets theparadox in the phrase “I must be cruel, only tobe kind.”
(1 point)
Hamlet intends to do something that
would typically be considered heartless,
but he is actually doing it to be helpful
and considerate.
Hamlet believes that a person can either
be cruel or kind, but it is impossible to be
both.
Hamlet believes that once a person is
cruel, his or her behavior will become
worse, and he or she will never act kindly
again.
Hamlet intends to do something difficult
and challenging, but he is afraid it might
be misinterpreted as kindness.

Answer 1

The best interpretation of the paradox in the phrase “I must be cruel, only to be kind” is:

Hamlet intends to do something that would typically be considered heartless, but he is actually doing it to be helpful and considerate.

This interpretation captures the essence of Hamlet's intention, as he believes his cruel actions are necessary to ultimately achieve a more favorable outcome.