CLAUDIUS

CLAUDIUS

1. Hamlet's Uncle and step father. He is also Hamlet's antagonist in the play.

2. He is a clever, benevolent, conniving king who contrasts with the other main characters in the play.

3. He is determined on maintaining his own power, after killing his brother to take it.

   • “my crown, mine own ambition and my queen”
   • “the serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown”
   • “how smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience” . His guilt is a “heavy burden”.

4. The old King Hamlet, Claudius brother was a stern warrior, but Claudius is a corrupt politician who manipulates others through his skillful use of langue.

   • The contrast between the dead King Hamlet “he was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again” and the new King “no more like my father than I to Hercules” upsets Hamlet greatly.

5. Claudius's love for Gertrude may be sincere, but it seems he married her to steal the throne away from Hamlet so he can be king.

6. Claudius fears Hamlet's insanity which leads him to selfishness.

   • When Gertrude tells him Hamlet killed Polonius, Claudius doesn't note that Gertrude might have been in danger, but only he would of been in danger if he was in the room.
     • He is sly as he tells Laertes the same thing to add to his angry and wanting revenge for his fathers death.
       • “What would you undertake to show yourself your father’s son in deed more than words?”

7. In Act V, scene II, in addition to Laertes's plan to kill Hamlet by stabbing him with a sword with a poison tip, Claudius insists to poisoned a goblet to make sure he dies.

   • When Clauidus' plan later fails and Gertrude accidently drinks from the goblet and dies, Hamlet at last is able to bring himself to kill Claudius.

8. Claudius dies due to his own failed plans and tricks.

   • “O yet defend me friends, I am but hurt”.

9. He manipulates and tricks people

   • When he asks Hamlet to stay in Denmark and not to go back it Wittenburg is and example of keeping your enemies close. “remain here in the cheer and comfort of our eye”
     • Claudius again appears as a skillful liar. He sends for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern so they can spy on Hamlet.

10. He tries to kill Hamlet.

    • His order that Hamlet be killed upon arrival in England will solve the greatest obstacle to Claudius retaining power and ensure his crime remains undetected “do it England for like the hectic in my blood he rages and thou must cure me”