Claudius's Corruption In Hamlet

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Hamlet, the Elizabethan revenge tragedy written by William Shakespeare involves diverse controversies among several characters regarding treachery, revenge, incest and moral corruption. Claudius, a supporting character exhibited his corruption by disregarding morals and ethics by indulging in devious acts towards other characters.
As with all the supporting characters in Hamlet, Claudius is not developed to his possible potential. His primary role in the play is to cause Hamlet's confusion and anger, and his ensuing search for truth and life's meaning. Claudius is not a static character. While his qualities are not as thoroughly explored as Hamlet's, Shakespeare crafts a whole human being out of the treacherous, usurping King of Denmark. …show more content…

He gives a speech that does his country proud, acknowledging his brother's death and the impending conflict with Norway. Claudius knows that a change in government could ignite civil turmoil, and he is afraid of possible unlawful allegiances and revolt. His speech contrasts the people's loss with the new beginning they will have under his care, and he uses the death of Hamlet's father to create a sense of national camaraderie. "the whole kingdom/To be contracted in one brow of woe" (i.ii.3,4).

Queen Gertrude has chosen to marry Claudius, and she defends Claudius even to her son, Hamlet, In fact, she never follows him freely even when Claudius assembles to send her beloved son, Hamlet, into the jaws of death. Queen Gertrude brushes her own husband’s death by saying “Thou know’st tis common, all that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity” (i.ii.72,73) Claudius was in fact sincere in his love for her. He explains his feelings for her at the end of Act IV, but he has proven these feelings consistently throughout the play.
One may argue that Claudius displays more heroism than Hamlet. Claudius manipulates fortune and takes what is not rightfully his, but remains unremorseful for his actions; Claudius possesses enough strength to admit that he would do the same again. Hamlet, undecided by conscience to smite the morally deficient Claudius, causes the death of six bystanders’ before he accomplishes

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