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The Manipulator: An Analysis Of Claudius In Shakespeare's Hamlet

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The Manipulator: An Analysis of Claudius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Claudius, the king in the drama Hamlet by William Shakespeare, was a manipulative, power-driven, mastermind. His dream of becoming king came true when he supposedly murdered his brother, Hamlet Senior, and married the queen Gertrude. Frightened by Hamlet’s insanity and strange allegations, Claudius manipulated Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Laertes through his heinous scheme to kill Hamlet.
Weak from the murder of her husband and the threat of Fortinbras’s army reconquering Denmark, Gertrude was easily manipulated into marrying Claudius, the man who fabricated his protection and her peace of mind. Having the ability to influence Hamlet’s actions, the queen provided …show more content…

Under Claudius’ influence, Gertrude instructed, “Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off,/ And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark” (Ham. 1.2.70-71). Then, Gertrude went on to accuse Hamlet, "I doubt it is no other than the main-/ His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage” (Ham. 2.2.59-60). Always agreeing with and obeying his orders, Gertrude easily became Claudius’ puppet. Blindsided, her mentality was set as a woman, one who followed her husband with loyalty, no matter the cost. Mid performance of the Players, Hamlet asked Gertrude what her thoughts were so far, and she solely replied, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks” (Ham. 3.2.254). Brainwashed to the max, Gertrude believed that the woman should subject to the husband more than her own thoughts. Claudius persuaded her so much that she lost her true self and who she cares about. The queen even forgot that her son was about to aboard a ship departed for England. “Alack, I had forgot! Tis’ so concluded on” (Ham. 3.4.223-224). Only, she did not know that Claudius sent a letter with the crew to murder Hamlet. Claudius did not broadcast the trip, so she would not investigate further to discover his true plot.

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Queen Gertrude is the Queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother, the widow of Old Hamlet and the wife of Claudius, brother of her dead husband. Gertrude is ignorant and a woman who means no harm but because of her actions it contributes greatly to the terrible events that occur throughout the play. In this play there’s many conflicts, one of the first conflicts was when Gertrude married King Claudius two months after Old Hamlet’s death. Gertrude is ignorant because she’s not aware of anything happening. For example she’s not aware that King Hamlet’s murder was by his own brother Claudius, even though they were some hints out there to show that it was King Claudius who killed Old Hamlet.

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Also, Hamlet displays his anguish at the Queen for dishonouring his dead father since “Almost as bad, good mother, as killing a king and marrying his brother” (Shakespeare, pg. 121). In this statement, Hamlet expresses how, through the marriage to her husband’s murderer, Gertrude is a symbol of dishonor and damaging her relationship with the prince. Hamlet is disgusted by Gertrude’s actions and recognizes her not as his mother but the queen and wife of Claudius, the murderer. The respect revered by children to their mother is not evident between Hamlet and Gertrude. In Gertrude’s death scene, Hamlet screams to his mother “Wretched Queen, adieu!”

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Claudius schemes and manipulates many people for many different reasons whether for his personal protection, sparing someone’s feelings, or to carry out a crime. This motives affect other characters causing them to do things that

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Hamlet’s views on women is adulterous which pertains to the misogynistic tendencies in the play; thus, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, sparks up his misogynistic approaches. Hamlet is repulsed with Gertrude since she was quick to re-wed immediately following Old Hamlet’s death and cries: “She married. O, most wicked speed, to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (1.2.156-157). Hamlet is shocked that his mother remarries to Claudius, Old Hamlet’s brother, before letting the tears on her cheek to dry.

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By being able to seduce Gertrude, Hamlets mother, he is able to control her mind into believing that whatever he says is the best thing to do. He tricks her to believing that he loves Hamlet and wants what is best for Him. He convinces Gertrude that Hamlet should be exiled back to England for his own well-being, for his safety. King Claudius then calls upon

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Gertrude’s betrayal of her son was caused by Claudius, as he comforted her after her husband’s unfortunate demise, and later married her, this was betrayal to Hamlet because he had a very high opinion of his father and thought very little of his uncle, Hamlet said “-married with my uncle, / My father’s brother, but no more like my father / Then I to Hercules; within a month” [I, ii, 151-153] showing that he believes that his mother betrayed him and his father’s memory by marrying his uncle, it also

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Hamlet Comparison Essay There are many qualities that make an effective and powerful leader. Some leaders strive for greatness; others strive to make history. Though their goals may differ, all can agree that the most important component of leadership is earning the respect of those who follow you and being responsible with the power you earn. There are many strong leaders in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, though not all are effective.

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Hamlet speaks to himself about Gertrude: “By what it fed on, and yet, within a month - let me not think on’t. Frailty, thy name is woman! … O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer! - married my uncle, my father’s brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules.

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When he learns Claudius is responsible for the death of his father, he intends to reveal this newfound information to not only Gertrude, but the rest of the characters. He is smart enough to know that she will not believe him based solely on his encounter with the ghost, and must create a trap where Claudius will reveal his guilt on his own. When the players arrive at the castle, he alters their script to mimic the king’s murder and “catch the conscience of the king” (II.ii.567). During the performance, Claudius shows signs of guilt and worry, making Hamlet’s plan a success and proving his

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First of all, King Claudius’s ambition to become the next King of Denmark causes him to lose his conscience. As King Hamlet’s ghost reveals the truth of his death, he anguishes, “Thus was I [King Hamlet], sleeping, by a brother’s hand, Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched” (1.5.81-82). The throne of Denmark motivates King Claudius to slay his own biological brother to succeed King Hamlet’s “crown”. His desire to gain power has overwhelming covered up his moral values.

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However, Hamlet soon discovers that Claudius has been lying to him, and Claudius’ real motive is to kill Hamlet in order to exterminate all possible threats to his reign. Claudius’ role play affects the entire country of Denmark, and he convinces the people that he is the rightful king, when he is not, and has murdered his brother for the throne. Gertrude, too, takes on a role; throughout the play, she seems oblivious to her wrongdoings. She claims that she loves Claudius, and did not just marry him for political reasons.

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The leading force for Hamlet’s behavior to change is his mother marrying her dead husband’s brother two months later. In the play Hamlet states “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason/ Would have mourned longer-married with my uncle,/ My father’s brother, but no more like my father” ( I.ii.150-152). This explains that Hamlet is frustrated because his mother moved on so fast and it seemed to him that she never really loved King Hamlet. Hamlet also claims that “Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,/That can denote me truly” ( I.ii.82-83 ). Hamlet is trying to tell his mother Queen Gertrude how he feels after the

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