Some critics have argued that Claudius is a victim and not a villain in the play Hamlet. There are very few facts which substantiate this idea and therefore it will be argued that Claudius is a villain and not a victim in the play with reference to Hamlet as a whole. If one looks at the beginning of Hamlet one would see the manner in which Claudius treats Hamlet. He calls him, “…my cousin Hamlet and my son.” He seems to have a high regard for Hamlet, until he orders him to remain in Denmark instead of returning to Wittenberg. It can be said that Claudius only refers to Hamlet as “my son” or “our son” when it furthers his selfish schemes or gives him a good appearance. Every decision Claudius seems to make has a selfish motive behind it. Claudius