Since the beginning of time, stories have explored power and what it can do to those who chase it, but one iconic character stands out amongst them all, due to his insatiable need for power being his hamartia; the cause of his downfall. Claudius is consistently portrayed as greedy, power-hungry, and evil. Throughout the play, his strong desire for power leads him to hurt his loved ones and commit horrific crimes. First, he commits treason by killing his brother, who is the King, and later, he recruits the vulnerable, still-grieving Laertes to help him carry out his plot to murder Hamlet.
In his pursuit of power, Claudius murders his own brother, and immediately marries his wife. This makes it obvious that his intentions are rooted in pure self-interest and disregard for others. In a soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 3, it becomes clearer than ever that Claudius murdered King Hamlet, when he is seen praying for forgiveness for his crime. “Oh, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon ‘t, a brother’s murder… May one be pardoned and retain th’ offence?” (3, 3, 37) The hyperbole “Oh, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven,” paints a picture of his guilt, describing his crime as rotten and putrid. While it may seem, in the moment, that this is a moment of genuine remorse and self-awareness from Claudius, it soon becomes clear how little he actually cares about the weight of what he has done. Although he shows some sense of guilt in this scene, while Claudius is repenting for killing his own brother, it is not long before he prays to keep his power, his status, and his wife, which shows the audience what his real priorities are. The fact that these emotions are confessed in a soliloquy demonstrates that these are his own thoughts and feelings, expressed without the intention of having another character hear. In addition, the belief that one could rid himself of a sin was not believed to be possible in Protestantism, the dominant religion of the audience at the time. Any small amount of guilt Claudius might have shown in one soliloquy does not erase the crimes he committed and the fact that he is driven by nothing but greed and a desire for power. Moreover, during Shakespeare’s lifetime, he likely knew about the many assassination attempts of Queen Elizabeth. The fact that she was Protestant made her a target of many, including Catholic Popes, who were very vocal about wanting her killed. Queen Elizabeth’s own cousin, Mary Queen of Scots was executed due to her involvement in a plan to assassinate her. Treason being such a common fear during this time makes it clear why Shakespeare would use it as a method to represent a character as selfish and evil. In the eyes of the audience, this was the most vile crime to commit. Therefore, it is no wonder why Shakespeare would have Claudius commit treason, if he wants the audience to perceive the character in a negative way.
Despite showing a hint of remorse for the murder of King Hamlet, Claudius later uses manipulation tactics to convince Laertes to murder Hamlet. This is, again, from a place of greed. Claudius wants Hamlet dead once he finds out that he is trying to kill him, as he doesn’t want to give up his power and status as royalty. “Laertes, was your father dear to you? Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, a face without a heart?” (4, 7, 107) The use of this simile indicates Claudius’ desire to manipulate Laertes to carry out the murder of Hamlet. He implies that Laertes does not care about Polonius’ death as a method to provoke him. Laertes, in response, becomes determined to prove his desire to kill Hamlet. When asked by Claudius what he would do to get revenge on Hamlet, Laertes responds: “To cut his throat i’ th’ church.” (4, 7, 126) Laertes’ choice to declare that he would gladly murder Hamlet in a church, specifically, in order to get revenge is incredibly significant to the audience’s perception of Claudius and his influence. Considering the sacredness of the church and the importance of religion at the time, it would have been shocking to hear Laertes, previously represented in a positive light, now saying such controversial things. This demonstrates the impact of Claudius’ manipulation and the power he has over Laertes. Moreover, Claudius dominates the dialogue with Laertes, further demonstrating the power imbalance between them. This further illustrates that he is using Laertes’ grief and anger to achieve his own desires, with no thought towards the impact his actions may be having on Laertes.
Claudius’ actions throughout Hamlet can be described as nothing less than shameful. His extreme desire for power, and his unwillingness to understand the consequences of his own actions, make him a self-serving, immoral character. Committing treason by murdering his brother, and later trying to do the same to his own nephew, Hamlet, are inexcusable actions, and cannot be defended by the ounce of guilt he shows in Act 3. Claudius’ downfall can serve as a cautionary tale about how addictive the hunt for power may be, and how detrimental it can become, when left unchecked.
Works Cited
Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare: The World as a Stage. New York, Harper Collins Publications, 2007.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Spark Publishing, 2003.
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