Lust, or lechery, is having the intense sexual desire to be with someone, which may lead to many sexual, immoral acts. Lust is best represented in Hamlet as the relationship between Queen Gertrude and King Claudius. After King Hamlet is murdered, Gertrude quickly marries her late husband’s brother, Claudius. The titular character even states that his mother got remarried with “ most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestous sheets” ( 1. 2. 155-156) and sheds light on the lecherous, undignified nature of this marriage. Though the marriage was hasty and so soon after the death of King Hamlet, seeming inconsiderate to Hamlet's mourning, it was also religiously wrong. For as the ghost of King Hamlet stated, “ O wicked wit and gifts, …show more content…
that have the power So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust, The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen” ( 1.3 44-46) , meaning that his brother, Claudius attempted to seduce Gertrude, and she eventually gave into his lustful action, even though she seemed committed to King Hamlet. Thus, Claudius seduced the Queen; both committed the sin of lechery. Lechery then lead to the immoral act of incestious marriage and sexual acts. This marriage is religiously wrong for “ You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness.” ( Leviticus 18: 15-16) as stated in the Bible. Hamlet, being very religious because of the time period, understands that Gertrude and Claudius’ marriage is a sin. Envy is the desire to have something someone else has, whether that be a possession, characteristic or success.
Greed is the desire to have more of something than others, to the point of excess and selfishness. Envy and greed go hand in hand in Hamlet, and is represented through the character Claudius. Claudius murdered his brother, King Hamlet, because he wanted what his brother had. Claudius reveals why he murdered the King when he is overcome with guilt, he says “ I am still possess'd Of those effects for which I did the murder, My crown, mine own ambition and my queen.”( 3.3.53-55). Meaning he committed the act of murder to obtain the three things he was envious that his brother had: being king, the lifestyle and Gertrude. Claudius could end his envy of his brother and obtain the lavish lifestyle he so desired. Envy and greed intense lead Claudius to commit the condemning act of regicide. One definition of regicide is killing a person of royalty deliberately, in this case, it was King Hamlet. In history, most cases of regicide have been executions or court ordered executions, such as in the cases of King Louis the Sixteenth of France and his wife, Queen Marie Antoinette. King Louis the Sixteenth was sentenced to death after being convicted of conspiring with foreign powers.This contrasts to the regicide in Hamlet because King Hamlet was not put on trial or found guilty of any crime. Claudius was not satisfied with his own life and longed for the life of his brother. Claudius killed his brother for his own personal gain, without justifiable
cause. Sloth may be defined as lacking interest, or reluctance to take action. Throughout the play, one of Hamlet’s negative traits is his reluctance to take action. Hamlet is indecisive and encounters many problems whilst seeking revenge. Hamlet takes his time and prefers to thoroughly discuss his method of murder. One of the reasons why Hamlet isn’t quick to action with the plan to kill Claudius is that he fears for the consequences in the afterlife. Murder is a sin, and if he kills his father’s murderer, his soul will be damned to Hell. He is not sure if revenge is worth eternal damnation. Hamlet has to meticulously plan out every detail, constantly on the verge of not following through with his plans due to fear. This is best represented in the “ To be, or not to be, that is the question” ( 3.1.56) soliloquy where he contemplates whether he should seek revenge and kill Claudius or commit suicide. But, he knows with either of those two options, he will be damned to Hell. This soliloquy is one of many times where Hamlet avoids killing Claudius. Sloth in Hamlet is also exemplified in Act Three, Scene Three, when Claudius is praying and admits to murdering King Hamlet, whilst Hamlet overhears. This gives Hamlet no doubt that Claudius is his father’s murderer, and instead of killing him right there, Hamlet says, “ But in our circumstance and course of thought ‘Tis heavy with him; and am I revenged to take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No.” ( 3.3.84-87) This means that Hamlet does not want to kill Claudius right after he has admitted his sins before God in prayer, for if Claudius dies, he may go to Heaven. Once again, Hamlet talks himself from avenging his father, adding on to the sloth within himself. The sin of gluttony is the overindulgence of anything. Gluttony may be represented in Queen Gertrude, leading to her demise. While Hamlet and Laertes are fighting, Claudius poisons a drink and attempts to give it to Hamlet in order to kill him. But, the gluttonous Gertrude takes the cup intended for her son and drinks it instead. The poison she drank causes her to fall down and cry out “ the drink, the drink, I am poisoned” ( 5.2.280). If Gertrude had only drank from her cup or waited for her cup to be refilled, she may have survived the play. But, Gertrude could not wait due to her glutinous ways and ended up dying. Gertrude could have also survived if Claudius’s pride had not gotten in the way. Pride is the immoderate belief in one's own ability. King Claudius was too proud to tell his wife that he had poisoned the cup, even if that meant she'd die. He did not want to hurt his reputation to save the woman he loved. He truly believed his plan to kill Hamlet would not be found out if he kept quiet, due to his excessive belief in himself. The last seven deadly sin is wrath, or excessive anger, which is rampant throughout Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. The titular character is overcome with wrath after learning of his father's murder and his uncle is the culprit. This fuels the whole plot of the play, Hamlet trying to avenge his father. Hamlet has a severe hatred for his murderous uncle. Claudius not only murdered his father, but also hastily married his mother. According to James Cooper, in his book Death-Personification, “ wrath is not in itself death, but is the occasion of it, is soon followed by it” ( Cooper 43). Cooper believed that with wrath came death, which is exactly what happened in Hamlet. Hamlet’s wrath lead to the death of not only himself, but also Ophelia, Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and Polonius. Due to the time period, religion was an enormous piece Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. Though, religion did not stop many characters from committing cardinal sins. The fear of being condemned to Hell was a crucial aspect as to why Hamlet held back on avenging his father until the end of the play. Yet, in the end, Hamlet gave into his wrath, leading to many characters demises.
Hamlet possesses an uncomfortable obsession with his mother’s sexuality. For this reason, Hamlet’s soliloquies provide most of the audience’s information about Gertrude’s sexual activities. In his first soliloquy, Hamlet refers to the relationship between Gertrude and Claudius when he exclaims, “Within a month…She married. O, most wicked speed, to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (I, ii, 153-157). In saying this, Hamlet displays how hastily Gertrude has abandoned the late King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father, such that she has already married Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. In addition, Hamlet acknowledges that Gertrude and Claudius have quickly developed a very sexual relationship. Despite the very recent death of her husband, Gertrude is unable to control her sexual desires, and she remarries less than two months after King Hamlet’s funeral.
Let us look at Claudius. Claudius is devious and intelligent, but also selfish. Claudius kills his brother, the King, to gain social, political, and economic power. “Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.” (3.3.Lines) Claudius from a Marxist point of view would be looked at as a figure who was been corrupted in his craving for political power. In fear and to protect his power, Claudius convinces Hamlets friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to spy on Hamlet to make sure he goes to England. “By letters congruing to that effect, The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England, For like the hectic in my blood he
[4, 1, 40] These idiosyncrasies are observed in the play when Claudius becomes concerned he will lose power as King and the likelihood Hamlet will murder him to avenge his father’s death. This is apparent when Gertrude informs Claudius that Hamlet is, “Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend which is mightier”. [4,1,6] With these thoughts daunting Claudius, he approaches Laertes in a Machiavellian manner to convince him to murder Hamlet, for he knows Laertes is angry, deranged and “Vows to the blackest devil” [4,5,131] after the death of his father. In doing so, Claudius has the intent to use Machiavellian powers over Laertes who is currently mentally unstable, with the objective being that Laertes will murder Hamlet to avenge his own father’s (Polonius) death. Claudius is able to successfully persuade Laertes in a manipulative speech, especially with his snide comment, “Not that I think you did not love your father, but that I know love is begun by time, and that I see a passage of proof.” [4,7,96] Claudius’ malicious comment indicates he is using his power over Laertes, so that the burden and repercussions do not rest on him, so that he may retain his authority as King. By utilizing his power over Laertes, Claudius is successful, as Hamlet is slain, however, as reflected in Claudius’
Claudius was motivated to take the throne for many reasons but one of the mains ones was his enormous greed. Claudius was not happy being the king’s brother, or being super wealthy, but rather he wanted to be the king himself, he wanted to be the wealthiest and most powerful man in entire kingdom. Claudius reflects back on what he has done when he says, “Forgive me my foul murder? /That cannot be; since I am still possessed/ Of those effects for which I did the murder-/ My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.” (Hamlet 3.3.52-55). Claudius knows that he has done wrong but his greed has consumed him and he cannot simply give up everything he has taken. The wealth and power he has acquired is what he has wanted his whole life and now he cannot imagine himself without it. He has committed a murder and he has married the queen he will now stick to his ambitions and not turn back. Greed is often when someone wants something in an extreme or an excessive amount above what is necessary. A certain amount of everything is
Claudius kills his own brother so that he can claim the crown and the queen. He disposes of a good and noble king to satisfy his greed. He sacrifices his brother, the good of the country, and the happiness of many to fulfill his ambition. He cares only for himself. Knowingly or not, most humans, at one point or another, will be driven by greed. Most, however, will not have the determination and desperation that Claudius displays. This is partly because of the differences of the times. In the time period that Shakespeare wrote the play, murder was heavily frowned upon as it is now. Greed is part of all people. They see something they want and they tell themselves that it is only what they deserve. It is inescapable, but we can control it to a certain degree.
Oddly, it appears that Gertrude possess more significance to Hamlet than one first anticipates. Her swift call to matrimony leads Hamlet into a spiraling quarry of depression and grieving. This mirrors the Oedipus complex. Gertrude sexually commits herself to Claudius causing Hamlet to feel a sense of jealousy and disappointment. In retaliation, he expresses his repressed desire of love through his unruly comments. He even goes as far as to say that the love is incestuous. Furthermore, in Act 3 scene 4, Hamlet confronts his mother directly in a closet. Addressing concern over her sexual actions, he exclaims “In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed, / Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love / Over the nasty sty” (III.iv.104-106). Not only does this quote show that Hamlet disapproves his mother’s marriage, but also that he believes Claudius is a wicked criminal. Aligning with the Oedipus complex, Hamlet strangely obsesses over his mother’s love life while viewing his uncle in
It is here that one begins to see the theme of revenge and the idea that power can cause corruption. A family is supposed to be loyal and trusting of each other without any doubts; or so it was thought. Shakespeare uses Claudius’ betrayal of late King Hamlet to disprove the notion that family is always loyal. Claudius’ jealousy of his own brother and his desire to be the most powerful in Denmark corrupted him. It led him to betray his own family, a bond that is supposed to be unbreakable, and all the while feeling no guilt while acting as if he had not committed the crime. In addition to this, Claudius also takes late King Hamlet’s wife. Hamlet is enraged by the crime and adultery committed by his supposed family and feels he must seek justice for his father by taking out revenge on Claudius and therefore betraying him. Subsequently, the play becomes a slippery slope of events stemming from betrayal and revenge. The betrayal of one character became the revenge and betrayal of many others as seen when Horatio says, “… violent and unnatural acts, terrible accidents, casual murders, deaths caused by trickery and by threat, and finally murderous plans that backfired on their perpetrators,” showing that each act committed by the characters were returned back to them. This can be supported through the deaths of Claudius, Laertes, and Hamlet as these were just a
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the minor character, the late King Hamlet, demonstrates the complications of loyalty. Throughout the play, Shakespeare includes varies moments of loyalty that are portrayed not only through Hamlet but as well as Laertes. Late King Hamlet is considerably the catalyst of the complications that spur the downfall in the relationship between Laertes and Hamlet. When the late King Hamlet quoted:“A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark is by a forgéd process of my death rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth,the serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown”the ghost was explaining to Hamlet how Claudius, “the serpent”, took the life and crown of the previous king, late King Hamlet (I,v,39,I,v,49).
With his thinking mind Hamlet does not become a typical vengeful character. Unlike most erratic behavior of individuals seeking revenge out of rage, Hamlet considers the consequences of his actions. What would the people think of their prince if he were to murder the king? What kind of effect would it have on his beloved mother? Hamlet considers questions of this type which in effect hasten his descision. After all, once his mother is dead and her feelings out of the picture , Hamlet is quick and aggressive in forcing poison into Claudius' mouth. Once Hamlet is certain that Claudius is the killer it is only after he himself is and and his empire falling that he can finally act.
Claudius is responsible for the death of King Hamlet, regardless of this, he wants to portray himself as someone that is worthy of running the nation of Denmark. Claudius connects to the people of Denmark by demonstrating that they are all participating in the grieving of King Hamlet, “Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief” (I.ii.1-3). King Hamlet’s death is very recent, but Claudius places himself as someone that is part of the kingdom that will be mourning the death of King Hamlet. This is demonstrated through irony since instead of mourning he is actually enjoying what King Hamlet has left behind; the nation of Denmark and his wife, Gertrude. Through this, Claudius also demonstrates that he wants others to believe that he has not done anything wrong. In order to convey the image of being healthy, Claudius and his court drink merrily within the castle; making the excesses that the court enjoys apparent. Hamlet is not fond of the drinking but then comes to the conclusion that “His virtues else, be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo, Shall in the general censure take corruption” (I.iv.33-35). Hamlet then foreshadows his own destiny. No matter how good a person may be, that person can become corrupt due to something that has ...
Ambition is the desire for power, honor, fame, wealth and the will to do anything to obtain them. Claudius is full of ambition and commits nefarious acts against his own family to gain power. In Act one; Scene five, Hamlet has been blessed by the presence of his father’s ghost. King Hamlet, who is absolutely irate, tells Hamlet exactly how he died. Murdered, more specifically poisoned, by his brother in his sleep. Not only did Claudius murder him but he robbed him “Of life, of crown, of queen.” All of these are things he viciously snatched from King Hamlet to fulfill ambitious life style. Although in Denmark the people elect their king Claudius is of royal blood, he knows the ins and outs of governing a body of people, thus possibly the reason...
Hamlet’s obsession with taking revenge destroys the relationships in his life. His furiousness with his mother’s marriage causes him to lose respect for her and wish for no more marriages in Denmark (III. i. 144-152). Hamlet’s loss of respect for women affects his relationship with his girlfriend, Ophelia. He slowly begins to drive her away. Hamlet becomes impetuous and consequently kills Ophelia’s father, which permanently destroys their relationship. Another instance of obsession to revenge is Laertes. He becomes so bent upon avenging his family, that he does not think clearly. Claudius deceives Laertes by persuading him into killing Hamlet so that he remains out of harm’s way. However, their obsession to revenge becomes the foundation of their
Claudius is justly punished for the murder of king Hamlet. The punishment fits the crime because his brother's son killed him. King Hamlet killed by the brother killed by the king's son. He was murdered. It was pay back, "what goes around comes around" "an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth" What these two quotes are mainly saying is that you get what you give. Claudius took his brothers life therefore his life was taken away. Not only did Claudius kill his brother to marry his wife and take over his throne, but he caused the deaths of the queen, king Hamlet, Polonius and Ophelia.
Claudius is seen in Hamlets eyes as a horrible person because he convicted murder and incest. Claudius had killed the king of Denmark, Old Hamlet, to obtain the position of the throne. He had been jealous of Old Hamlet’s wife Gertrude and wanted to marry her for her power. Although, such an act would be called incest and considered unnatural he did not care, all he had cared about was the power that he would be stealing from Hamlet and Old Hamlet, Gertrude’s son and husband (R). When Hamlet had talked to his f...
... the only way to honour his father Polonius is by killing Hamlet. In addition, as Claudius reads the letter from Hamlet to Laertes he says “'Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked” And in a postscript here, he says “alone.” Can you advise me?” (IV, VII, 52-53). This shows that Claudius takes advantage of Hamlet’s return alone as an opportunity for Laertes to kill him. Through Claudius’s actions the readers observe how he deceives Laertes into killing Hamlet for his own benefit without getting blood on his hands. Furthermore, Claudius’ desperation to kill Hamlet leads to him losing sight of what is important, which is being the king of Denmark, what he originally wanted, instead the lies he told and the manipulation he spread is now taking over. To conclude, it is evident through the play that the words and actions of Claudius have only lead to the spread of deception.