Shakespeares Presentation Of Claudius In Hamlet Essay -- William Shak

Shakespeares Presentation Of Claudius In Hamlet Hamlet opens with the death of onetime(a) King Hamlet, Father of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The new king, Claudius, familiar of the previous king has married Gertrude, the dead mans widow and has taken the throne. Shakespeare presents Claudius as the plays damned smiley villain although he does allow him some redeeming features leading an audience to overhear him as a complex and contradictory figure within the play. later on Old King Hamlet dies Claudius is crowned king of Denmark and talks to the heap as though he has sympathy and is saddened by his brothers death and that it is us befitted to bear out hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom to be continued in one brow of woe. However, he comes across as insincere as he marries his brothers wife so soon aft(prenominal) the funeral. Claudius is sly and clever as he counters possible opposition to his sexual union by flattering his court thanking th em for their better wisdoms, which have freely gone(a) with this affair For the same reasons he turns his attention to the threat of invasion by Fortinbras and shows himself to be an excellent king knowledgeable, organised and efficient in relations with the imminent attack by diplomatic means. The kings treachery is revealed when the ghost of Old King Hamlet appears to Hamlet who talks very much of his loathe of his brother, Claudius The snake that did sting thy fathers life now wears the crown. Referring to Claudius as a serpent who plays around beneath you, very deceptive and sly. Claudius has committed two crimes of withdraw, Fratricide- murder of his brother and Regicide- murder of the ki... ..., I am but hurt. Hamlet kills Claudius by forcing him to drink the poison his mother has drank. Hamlet is not an unprincipled manslayer and traitor, Claudius is Claudius has manipulated Laertes and deserved to die by Hamlet, as it was an act of reveng e and nicety for the murder of his father. Claudius is the obvious villain of the play presented by Shakespeare as a contradictory graphic symbol with clear strengths and weaknesses. He possesses excellent leadership qualities, is diplomatic, intractable and clever but beneath this impressive public image he is cowardly, deceptive, murderous and duplicitous. He is therefore presented as a complex character throughout the play. Shakespeares presentation of Claudius allows him to explore human nature and the themes of corruption, appearance and verity and political intrigue.