Is Claudius A Hero Or A Villain
Cooper Langham
Freshman Writing ENGL1302
Dr. Jana Wesson-Martin
22 April 2014
Claudius
Claudius is the antagonist of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. He’s quite natural and human in his desires and intentions, and only his murderous action distinguishes him as a malicious criminal. Coveting his brother’s power, wife, popularity, and general royal lifestyle drove him to committing the unspeakable action of poisoning his brother, King Hamlet. Initially, Claudius is driven by a selfish greed, a lust for power, and his sexual appetites. Over time, this all seems to transition into good intentions, guilty concern, and nervous paranoia. Claudius’ lust for power and determination for the maintenance of his power never …show more content…
It comes across to the reader and to Prince Hamlet, the son of the King and the play’s protagonist, that she is not entirely innocent. Hamlet himself states that she is a “pernicious woman.” Oh, most pernicious woman! / Oh, villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! / My tables - meet it is I set it down / That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. (1.5.106-109)
Hamlet sees her as guilty for having moved on too quickly and, perhaps also, thinks she is not entirely innocent or oblivious concerning his father’s death. These are not, however, the only reasons for Hamlet to feel uncomfortable about his mother’s actions. According to Vernon E. Johnson’s Corruption in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “...although [Claudius’] marriage to the dead king’s widow has been sanctioned by the court, Elizabethans would see it as incest” (Johnson, 92). Johnson states that, not only is the marriage of Gertrude to Claudius hasty and suspicious, but also incestuous. Harold Bloom blames part of Hamlet’s state of mind on this incestuous …show more content…
Otherwise, Claudius covers his actions and conceals the resulting emotions thoroughly, especially concerning Hamlet. “When Hamlet goes ‘mad,’” Jones says, “Claudius does everything that a reasonable and kindly man could be expected under such circumstances to do; he ... treats [Hamlet] throughout the greater part of the tragedy with amazing patience and kindness. ... The king’s methods are admirably calculated for the man he is dealing with, leaving Hamlet no opening to pick a quarrel, no occasion for complaint; forcing him back upon his purpose, making him doubt the ghost ... Claudius, far from proving a fool and a beast, is remarkable above everything else for his treatment of those about him.” (Jones 56). His wit is admirable. Suppressing his nervousness and paranoia, he carefully draws everyone around him with flattery and amiability. He strategically chooses his friends as if he were creating a network of unofficial social alliances, offering Hamlet a “polished and unassailable front” (Jones 56). With the support so unevenly balanced, the crowd would trust and favor Claudius’ rebuttal against any verbal accusation or statement Hamlet could make against him. Though a hypocritical, pathological liar would never do on the throne, Claudius’ impressive wit simply goes to verify the great potential he had within him for being a good
Freshman Writing ENGL1302
Dr. Jana Wesson-Martin
22 April 2014
Claudius
Claudius is the antagonist of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. He’s quite natural and human in his desires and intentions, and only his murderous action distinguishes him as a malicious criminal. Coveting his brother’s power, wife, popularity, and general royal lifestyle drove him to committing the unspeakable action of poisoning his brother, King Hamlet. Initially, Claudius is driven by a selfish greed, a lust for power, and his sexual appetites. Over time, this all seems to transition into good intentions, guilty concern, and nervous paranoia. Claudius’ lust for power and determination for the maintenance of his power never …show more content…
It comes across to the reader and to Prince Hamlet, the son of the King and the play’s protagonist, that she is not entirely innocent. Hamlet himself states that she is a “pernicious woman.” Oh, most pernicious woman! / Oh, villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! / My tables - meet it is I set it down / That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. (1.5.106-109)
Hamlet sees her as guilty for having moved on too quickly and, perhaps also, thinks she is not entirely innocent or oblivious concerning his father’s death. These are not, however, the only reasons for Hamlet to feel uncomfortable about his mother’s actions. According to Vernon E. Johnson’s Corruption in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “...although [Claudius’] marriage to the dead king’s widow has been sanctioned by the court, Elizabethans would see it as incest” (Johnson, 92). Johnson states that, not only is the marriage of Gertrude to Claudius hasty and suspicious, but also incestuous. Harold Bloom blames part of Hamlet’s state of mind on this incestuous …show more content…
Otherwise, Claudius covers his actions and conceals the resulting emotions thoroughly, especially concerning Hamlet. “When Hamlet goes ‘mad,’” Jones says, “Claudius does everything that a reasonable and kindly man could be expected under such circumstances to do; he ... treats [Hamlet] throughout the greater part of the tragedy with amazing patience and kindness. ... The king’s methods are admirably calculated for the man he is dealing with, leaving Hamlet no opening to pick a quarrel, no occasion for complaint; forcing him back upon his purpose, making him doubt the ghost ... Claudius, far from proving a fool and a beast, is remarkable above everything else for his treatment of those about him.” (Jones 56). His wit is admirable. Suppressing his nervousness and paranoia, he carefully draws everyone around him with flattery and amiability. He strategically chooses his friends as if he were creating a network of unofficial social alliances, offering Hamlet a “polished and unassailable front” (Jones 56). With the support so unevenly balanced, the crowd would trust and favor Claudius’ rebuttal against any verbal accusation or statement Hamlet could make against him. Though a hypocritical, pathological liar would never do on the throne, Claudius’ impressive wit simply goes to verify the great potential he had within him for being a good