Hamlet V. Claudius

Hamlet vs. Claudius:

A Fight to Remember

In the literary classic, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, controversy meets corruption. The monarch of Denmark, King Hamlet, is murdered by his jealous brother, Claudius. While the son of the king, Prince Hamlet, is away at school, Claudius seizes the throne and marries the adulterous Queen Gertrude. Hamlet returns to Denmark finding his father dead, his mother remarried, and his uncle the king. Grief succumbs Hamlet and his only relief is from the truth told by the ghost of his late father. The ghost reveals the true nature of his death and relies on Hamlet to avenge his wrongful end. The plot thickens, as Hamlet must find a way to expose Claudius' evil ways and regain the throne as the rightful ruler. Throughout the play, the true characters of Hamlet and Claudius are revealed in their entirety, both exhibiting the potential to be good or evil. One in the same, yet the two sides of every man, Hamlet and Claudius must survive each other.

Though Hamlet is the protagonist of the play and Claudius the antagonist, these two characters show various similarities, in addition to their differences. For example, both men contain the love for their queen, Gertrude. This love may be unlike between the two, but they both feel deeply for the woman in their life. Moreover, Hamlet's love for his mother changes as the truth is revealed. He learns more of his mother's ignorance and naivety, to the point where he is angry with her and threatens her life, "And--would it were not so--you are my mother," (72). This statement of Hamlet's shows how he no longer loves his mother, but cannot bring himself to hurt her based on the fact that she is his creator. In terms of Claudius' love for his wife, change also occurs as the plot progresses. The changing of his heart is shown when Claudius does not sincerely attempt to stop Gertrude from drinking the poison in the goblet during the duel of Laertes and Hamlet (118). In addition to their similar love, Hamlet and Claudius also exhibit the same need to fulfill their destiny at any cost. Hamlet vows to avenge his father's death and plans to go to any length to do so. In the same way, Claudius goes to the lengths of using Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Laertes to attempt at Hamlet's demise. Furthermore, Hamlet and Claudius mutually display traits of selfishness. Even at opposite ends of the spectrum, these men both put their ideals in front of their families. Hamlet pushes Ophelia out of his life in the same way that Claudius has no concern for the life of Gertrude. Similar also is the cowardly nature of both characters. Throughout the play, Claudius must use other people to find his answers and even to kill Hamlet. Such actions are revealed in his plot to have Laertes fight Hamlet in a duel with a poison sword (99). Claudius is intelligent and has many intentions, but he can never do anything for himself. He is too much a coward to risk any part of his life. Hamlet is the same in his procrastinating actions. He knows what he must do, but contemplates his actions before doing so (53). This contemplation may be considered superior in other cases, but in this example it only worsens Hamlet's ability to react. Thinking before he acts gives the sense of his true weak nature. Additionally, Hamlet and Claudius both allude to the biblical story of Cain and Able. Claudius speaks to Polonius of the primal eldest curse (69). Correspondingly, Hamlet later uses the same allusion when conversing with the first clown by saying, "...as if it were Cain's jawbone..." (103).

On the other hand, Hamlet and Claudius demonstrate qualities that best illustrate their opposition as the antagonist and protagonist. These qualities are the differences that give them the potential to be good or evil. Such differences include the ambition of each character. Specifically, Claudius is a very ambitious man who acts impulsively to attain what he desires. He murders his own brother in jealousy and seizes the throne and queen for himself, as told by the ghost, "The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown" (24).