Shakespeares Presentation Of Claudius In Hamlet Essay -- William Shak

Shakespeares Presentation Of Claudius In Hamlet Hamlet opens with the death of Old fagot Hamlet, Father of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The new tycoon, Claudius, brother of the previous king has married Gertrude, the dead mans widow and has taken the throne. Shakespeare presents Claudius as the fetchs damned smiley villain although he does allow him some redeeming features leading an audience to view him as a compound and contradictory figure within the play. After Old King Hamlet dies Claudius is crowned king of Denmark and talks to the people as though he has sympathy and is saddened by his brothers death and that it is us befitted to bear out hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom to be continued in one brow of woe. However, he comes across as insincere as he marries his brothers wife so soon after the funeral. Claudius is sly and clever as he counters possible electric resistance to his marriage by flattering his court thanking them for their b etter wisdoms, which have freely gone with this affair For the same reasons he turns his attention to the threat of invasion by Fortinbras and shows himself to be an excellent king knowledgeable, organised and efficient in dealing with the imminent attack by diplomatic means. The kings treachery is revealed when the ghost of Old King Hamlet appears to Hamlet who talks very much of his hate of his brother, Claudius The serpent that did sting thy fathers life now wears the crown. Referring to Claudius as a serpent who plays around infra you, very deceptive and sly. Claudius has committed two crimes of murder, Fratricide- murder of his brother and Regicide- murder of the ki... ..., I am but hurt. Hamlet kills Claudius by forcing him to drink the poison his contract has drank. Hamlet is not an unprincipled murderer and traitor, Claudius is Claudius has manipulated Laertes and deserved to die by Hamlet, as it was an act of revenge and justice for the murd er of his father. Claudius is the obvious villain of the play presented by Shakespeare as a contradictory character with clear strengths and weaknesses. He possesses excellent leadership qualities, is diplomatic, determined and clever but beneath this impressive common image he is cowardly, deceptive, murderous and duplicitous. He is therefore presented as a complex character throughout the play. Shakespeares presentation of Claudius allows him to explore human nature and the themes of corruption, coming into court and reality and political intrigue.