As early as Act I, scene ii, Claudius is deceiving others and saying things just to make it seem as though he is really saddened by King Hamlet's death. He gives a speech about the king's death in which he says, "...that it us befitted/ To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom/ To be contracted in one brow of woe..." (Shakespeare 1553) How could anyone give such an eloquent speech as this one and remain so composed if guilt were tearing at his soul? It is more likely that Claudius is concerned solely with his own image.

After Gertrude tells Claudius of Polo

Toward the end of the play, Claudius is talking to Laertes about how they will go about murdering Hamlet. He helps him plan not one, but three ways to ensure Hamlet's demise: a sharpened fencing blade, a poisoned fencing blade, and a poisoned goblet. Through his ever-calculating mind, Claudius has planned an inconspicuous and seemingly foolproof way to get rid of the threat of Hamlet by having Laertes kill him. Never once does it cross Claudius' mind that he is about to commit another murder, which is what got him into this situation to begin with. He knows no morals.

Claudius has no redeeming qualities. His best trait is his ability to control other people. He is power-hungry, greedy, and selfish. He loves no one but himself, and it is because of this total self-love that the incredible tragedy and destruction of lives takes place.

nius' death in Act IV, scene i, Claudius responds peculiarly. It would seem that a lov

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 631
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)