The Character of Claudius in Shakespeares Hamlet :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

The Character of Claudius in Hamlet It is easy to remit some of Claudius villainy. He may not rant and rave, nor pluck bug out eyes on stage or hands, or tongues, nor does he call down with crafty rationality like Edmund or Iago in Othello, nor bake brusque children in a pie. But as the murderer, usurper, and incestuous step-father, Claudius is one of Shakespeargons superior villains. His distinguishing features are hypocrisy and subterfuge. He is clever in a terrestrial sense, a flattering strategist, intelligent at manipulating his courtiers, at double-speak. His fawning continue to Hamlet in I.2 (Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet ...) shows him to be a master of persuasiveness. He encourages Polonius to practise subterfuge his favourite artillery is poison. This recourse to poison, initially against his own brother, nauseously poured into the ear of the sleeping king, is repugnant and in the final act, poison is used both on Laertes sword and in the cup of wine that is to be offered to Hamlet. But from the start, his very words are like a drug, aimed at deflecting Hamlet away from his grief. In a wider sense, the state itself is poisoned by Claudius. He uses Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as his tools he employs spies and underhand methods. He tries to make Hamlet disappear by sending him to England (where his madness is less potential to attract attention) in the compevery of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern rather than by any process of law or a direct challenge. Polonius is a good example of the usurpers pernicious influence a faithful agreeer of the old sort, much assumption to spouting words of wisdom (to thine own self be dependable .. I.3.78), yet stooping to all manner of intrigue against his own son (II.1), his daughter and Hamlet. Yet even Claudius is not so wicked as not to be pricked by pangs of conscience. He does at least experience what he has done (O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven III.3.36). Shakespeare actually shows him kneeling down and praying in this scene, hoping for forgiveness and wondering if he can repent and still retain the effects for which he committed the murder My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen (III.3.55) - a question many villains have periodically asked themselves. Claudius is wise enough to signalize that this cannot