Character Analysis of Claudius from the Play Hamlet by Shakespeare Essa

Character Analysis of Claudius from the Play small town by ShakespeareIn the play, Hamlet, Shakespeare needed to devize an vile character, a villain that is ambitious, and has the ability to scheme to get what he wants. The character would also beat to contain some good qualities, such as kindness and contriteness. These good qualities make the character front more human and thus, more believable. Claudius is this character. Shakespeare uses Claudius in his revenge theme in this play. Without the acts of Claudius, this theme just would not be. The entire play revolves around what Claudius has done, or give do.The evil traces of Claudius by far outweigh the good things he does. He is very ambitious, perhaps too ambitious. Claudius wanted to be king so badly, that he murdered his own brother to achieve his goal. This is how the revenge theme is weaved into theplay. Hamlet, the dead kings son learns of the act from a ghost,A serpent peeved me so the whole ear of DenmarkIs by a f orged process of my death Rankly abused but forthwith that noble youth The serpent that did pungency thy fathers life Now wears his crown. ( round I, Sc. V, Lines 42-46)Claudius not only wanted to be the king of Denmark, he also wanted the queen that came with it. In Act I Sc. II Lines 8-14, Claudius has just recently been crowned king and is addressing the court. He shows in his words how happy he is to be married to Gertrude, the Queen. herefore our sometime sister, now our queen, The imperial jointress to this warlike state, Have we, as twere with a defeated joy, With an auspicious, and dropping eye, With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage,In equal scale deliberateness delight and dole, Taken to wife ....The ambition of Claudius lays the foundation for the theme of revenge. Without his need to be king and his willingness to do anything for it, the play would be completely different. This evil trait is, in part, what in the end kills Claudius.Claudius other evil trai t, his scheming, also leads to his death. An example of one of Claudius many plans was when he summoned Rozencrantz and Guildenstern to do some spying on Hamlet to find out what was ailing him. Moreover that we much did long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something hav... ...) was very wrong and he realises there is little that he bear do to make things well.. O, my offence is rank, it smells to heavenIt hath the primal eldest curse upont, A brothers murder Pray can I not, Through inclination be as sharp as will. My stronger guilt defeats my stronger intent.... (Act III Sc. IV Lines 39-43) My words fly up, my thoughts remain below rowing without thoughts never to heaven go. (Act III Sc. IV Lines 100-101)These traits give Claudius a human side and this plays into the authors purpose by making the reader oddity if Hamlet is going to do the right thing by killing Claudius. It gives the reader second thoughts.Claudius was the villain in Haml et. He showed all the necessary characteristics of an evil character but Shakespeare put some extra into him. He did this be giving him somegood characteristics. What he had was a well blended character with the ability to be both a murderous bad guy to a kind hearted good guy. Shakespeare had Claudius fit well into the theme of revenge. It was all centred around him. With out him, It would have been a happy ending, or completely different.