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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 4 page essay that offers a detailed character analysis of Claudius. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the character of Claudius is central to the plot as he is Hamlet's major antagonist. While the other characters in the play are concerned with ideas of justice, revenge and how to weigh these factors against standards of morality, Claudius remains focused squarely on maintaining his power, at all costs. Examination of the play demonstrates that the best word for describing Claudius is "conniving." Unlike his brother who appears to have been a successful warrior and a good king, Claudius' primary skill is the manner in which he can manipulate people through words. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khclaana.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
justice, revenge and how to weigh these factors against standards of morality, Claudius remains focused squarely on maintaining his power, at all costs. Examination of the play demonstrates that the
best word for describing Claudius is "conniving." Unlike his brother who appears to have been a successful warrior and a good king, Claudius primary skill is the manner in which
he can manipulate people through words. Claudius is the epitome of a corrupt politician--devious and unprincipled, yet able to present an upright image that is diametrically opposed to his true
character. Nevertheless, Shakespeare, from the beginning of the play, gives the audience indications of Claudius evil nature by juxtaposing images that are at odds with one another, in the same
manner that Claudius on the throne of Denmark also represents a country out of sync with the natural order as it was perceived by Elizabethans. In Claudius opening
speech, he proposes to "balance" the grief of the country for his brothers death with the joy inherent in a new marriage, that is, his marriage to his brothers widow
and Hamlets mother, Gertrude. This concept is extremely contradictory and makes no real sense as it proposes to balance grief with happiness through the act of marrying the dead mans
wife. Claudius states, "Though yet of Hamlet (the late king was also named Hamlet) our late brothers death/The memory be green" (I.2.1-2). What Claudius means, of course, is that the
memory of King Hamlets death is still fresh, but the statement combines the concept of death with that of greenery, which suggests growth and renewal, which are extremely contradictory images.
He also combines other contradictory images, such as calling Gertrude, his "sometime sister, now our queen," which alludes to the incestuous aspect of the relation that also bothers Hamlet--"defeated joy,"
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