King Claudius Analysis

He murdered the king married the queen, took the crown, plotted to do away with Hamlet, but in all, guarded himself from blame. King Claudius was a mad psychopath who wanted power. He wanted his brother 's wife and his kingdom. His ex-sister-in-law is now his new wife and queen of the kingdom. King Hamlet, the ghost return from hell, he wanted them brutally killed by his son Hamlet. In the end, King Claudius had to pay the price, he lost his new wife and his stepson/ nephew and his own life. I 'm sure by now you’re confused. As crazy as this sounds there is more to the story. Most know how the story evolved at the end, with blood and poison wine and a toast. A brief introduction to Niccolò Machiavelli, is necessary for a better understanding

Claudius is a Machiavellian ruler because he plots for power, he lies, he manipulates and he controls Gertrude. In the first few scenes of hamlet, the political aspirations of King Claudius are shockingly evident, even though it 's only been a few months since his brother 's death. He knew to get the power of the kingdom, his brother had to die and he had to control hamlet because he was the firstborn. So, he marries Gertrude. Regardless of the fact, Gertrude was King Hamlet 's wife, in other words, the wife of the brother he murdered. It seemed like he was tired of standing in his brother 's shadow and would do anything to gain the power. Gertrude was only Queen because she was married to King Hamlet, and does not continue being Queen after he dies. When King

Hamlet died, Hamlet would have been succeeded by his son, Prince Hamlet, under normal

Primogeniture rules. However, his brother, Claudius, usurped the Throne; his marriage to

Gertrude was for political reasons and mostly to strengthen his position as King. His uncle could do this because he had a Machiavellian personality and Hamlet, however normally takes a more passive-aggressive stand of dealing with problems. Hamlet did not want to be disobedient and

King Claudius, is intelligent and well-spoken. Which are traits when put together, intensify his manipulative and dangerous nature. If you notice, he will modify his strategy and language to match individual people, so he can get them to solve problems his way, not providing choices in situations where

Maldonado 6 there is another way to go. This takes a plotter, conniving, and manipulating person. Because he goes undetected, he can wreak havoc throughout the kingdom, using people to take whatever he wants, regardless of who he hurt or the consequences, without any remorse or feeling any guilt. “To thine own peace. If he be now returned, as checking at his voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it, I will work him,

To an exploit, now ripe in my devise, Under the which he shall not choose but fall. And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,

But even his mother shall uncharged the practice And call it accident.” (Act 4, scene 7, line, 60-65) Claudius is trying to manipulate Laertes ' anger against Hamlet, so he will kill him, but this time it will lead to his own death. Everything he does or says is to benefit himself. He makes