Shakespeares Presentation Of Claudius In Hamlet Essay

Shakespeares Presentation Of Claudius In Hamlet Hamlet opens with the death of Old King Hamlet, Father of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The new king, Claudius, brother of the previous king has married Gertrude, the dead mans widow and has taken the throne. Shakespeare presents Claudius as the plays damned smiley villain although he does allow him some redeeming features; leading an audience to view him as a complex 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†¦show more content†¦The Ghost does not refer to Claudius as his name but by other words such as Ay that incestuous, that adulterate beast. He is angry with Claudius because he lusted after his Queen and feelings, he thinks Claudius is inhuman. A lot of negative language is used in Act 1 by which Shakespeare gives us a sinister picture of Claudius. He comes across as selfish, calculating and greedy. This is because he has everything now that Old King Hamlet once had but is now dead, the thrown and the Queen. There are positive aspects of Claudius such as he is a good public speaker and has smooth negotiations with other people. He is very much a diplomat and he thinks of himself a very powerful man To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras, who, impotent and bed-rid. From the start of Act 2 we see Claudius as being clever when associating with two of Hamlets friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find out the cause of Hamlets disturbed behaviour. He is courteous to them and full of flattery for himself. He knows how to talk to someone when he wants something the need we have to use you did provoke our hasty sending. Something you heard of Hamlets transformation; so call it. 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