How Does Shakespeare Present Claudius's Confession

William Shakespeare uses Claudius’s confession in Act III Scene III to really emphasize many of his main points or theme to writing the play Hamlet. Many historians and literatus would say that Shakespeare’s writings have an underlying meaning and relate to his personal life in more ways than one. Claudius’s confession is one of the many ways William Shakespeare elaborates his story and does not just make it about a good guy, Hamlet, and the bad guy, King Claudius.

At the beginning of the play William Shakespeare gives us very subtly aspects of King Claudius’s behavior and personality. Admittedly so, King Claudius appears to be the antagonist throughout the story and is pushing Hamlet to his limits. We hear Hamlet’s side of the story, but very spontaneously we get to hear King Claudius’s feelings toward the murder of is brother. In his confession he says, “Oh, my

offence is rank. It smells to heaven.” He feels guilty and terrible for killing his brother, giving him more definition and personally does not make him just the “bad guy.” William Shakespeare, again, slowly develops Claudius’s character so at this moment of his confession the audience is surprised to see how he feels about his brother’s death. This distinctive writing style pleases the audience and sets up for a rise in the climax seeing as the audience has heard for the first time that King Claudius really murdered his brother. Shakespeare uses his timing perfect here and places Claudius’s confession very strategically to raise the climax and make Hamlet’s next appearance a lot more dramatic.
Finally, William Shakespeare uses references from the Bible to make the confession more relatable to the audience.

During the time period that Hamlet was shown much of the audience would have been Catholic and very familiar with the story of Cain and Able. Claudius compares himself to Cain, and even says, “It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t, A brother’s murder.” Again throughout his confession Claudius says that he cannot be forgiven of his sins and his unworthy of prayer to God and His forgiveness. “Can serve my turn, “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.” Shakespeare uses these references to the Bible to relate to his audience and if you continue reading then these references the audience would see how Hamlet acts to these references and make them think of Hamlet as more of the “bad guy.” Shakespeare uses many writing styles and strategies to get his points that possible, King Claudius is more than just the antagonist and that Hamlet is more than the troubled

protagonist.