A Study of Claudius

Analytical Essay # 58732

English > Analysis
Shakespeare > Hamlet

A Study of Claudius

An analysis of Claudius' qualities as a good king and a bad man in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet".

2,056 words () | 3 sources | MLA | 2005 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how one character that can rival the complexity and depth of the character of Hamlet, is that of Claudius. It looks at how we soon discover through Hamlet's eyes that Claudius murdered his brother to get to the throne which prompts the opinion of Claudius as a bad man. It analyses whether this opinion is justified and whether Claudius can be considered a good king as has been proposed by critics in the past.

From the Paper:

"However, much evidence points towards the fact that Claudius may in fact have been a 'bad man'. He can display a malicious nature and manipulate people into doing what he wants them to do. Throughout the course of the play he uses many characters for his own personal gain: Gertrude (to hold power over Denmark); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (to see if Hamlet's madness was real or just an act); Laertes (to kill Hamlet) and through the exposition, King Hamlet (who is killed so Claudius can get to the throne). Through Claudius' use of Laertes, we see the true immorality of his character with there being no other reason for his twisting of the truth than for personal gain."