Claudius in Hamlet Essay

Claudius is a perfect example of a character who confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his responsibility. Claudius is jealous of his brothers royalty, kingdom, and queen. He took matter in his own hands and murders King Hamlet by pouring poison in his ear. He took over the throne and gained everything he envied his brother for. Two months after he murdered the king, he married Gertrude the newly widowed queen.

The Conflict at hand is that Claudius is fully aware that he is morally wrong for killing his brother. He knows his is morally wrong for marrying Gertrude and his also knows the life of wealth and luxury isnt deserved. The problem is that he loves his newly acquired life so much that he isnt willing to give it up. In act IV, Claudius is seen praying before God saying: of these effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition and my queen. May one be pardoned and retain the offense? His diction shows he is aware but the guilt isnt enough for him to give up his newly obtained status and life. The effect this has on Claudius is that it shows he is a villain who now has power and is willing to twist and manipulate anyone for his own benefit. In act V he sent Hamlet to England with orders for him to be killed, when that plan fails, he plans fencing dual for Hamlet and Laertes. His plan is for Laertes to play with a poison tipped blade and when he strikes Hamlet he would be poisoned, and if that failed he poisoned the drink so would drink from it but that plan backfired and Gertrude drank from it.

Claudius evil doing and his recognition of it but unwillingness to give it up his throne is significant to the story because it shows how much of a villain he is and how he lacks morals and ethics. It also explains why everything he does in the book is foul. Claudius was the only true villain who turned Rosencratz, Guildernstein, Polonius and Laertes into temporary villains. The story of Claudius relates back to modern times, how people take any mean necessary to get what they want. They will manipulate, rob or even kill to obtain things that they havent earned.