Comparing Claudius's Ambition, And My Queen

When an individual self-obsesses over themselves and their ambition there life swerves into a downward spiral because there pursuit for selfish goals causes the individual to suffer adverse consequences. Claudius’ awareness that his ‘secret’ has somehow been revealed shows the audience to the lengths he would go to uphold his reign. When Claudius confesses his sin he states that he still possesses “those effects for which I did the murder” (III, iii, 55) stressing the thought “My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.”(III, iii, 56) but the fact that he referred to his “crown” first before “my queen” exemplifies his ambition for authority and command before his wife or anything else. The crown is both an entity and a symbol of his ambition;

Shakespeare spreads Claudius’ depiction by questioning “Laertes was your father dear to you?” (IV, vii, 104) this expresses his enthusiasm to deploy other individuals and falsify the relationship between Laertes and his deceased father. The resulting incrimination “Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, A face without a heart?”(IV. vii. 105) to be precise, the symbol of “like the painting of a sorrow”, proves how far Claudius will go to encourage Laertes into pursuing revenge, so he could lay waste to Hamlet. Further proof of his desire for the throne and the fact that it prevails the love he has for Gertrude is found in the last scene of the play. Before Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine which was meant for Hamlet, Claudius does say, "Gertrude, do not drink."(V, ii, 286) But he never states that the wine is poisoned before she drinks it and does nothing otherwise to stop her from drinking it. Rather than expose what horrific deed he was going to commit, he was prepared to let the supposed love of his life pass away. This is witnessed by people who are present during Laertes and Hamlets duel, this eventually gives Hamlet a reason to get revenge for his father and his