Is a Tragedy of Claudius, King of Denmark or Simple Ambition?
Claudius is a complicated character because can be innocent or guilty depends on someone’s opinion. Claudius is a strong man and brother of Hamlet sr. He takes the throne of Denmark after his brother died. But we do not know that Claudius kill his brother for ambition after Hamlet talks to his father ghost. This fact can make of him , how Hamlet sr. describes him, such as “adulterate beast, o wicked wit and gift, that have the power so to seduce; won to his harmful lust the will of my most seeming-virtuous queen” (p. 1029). Claudius is not only a killer, but an incestuous brother who takes his brother widow. If we look this fact from this period point of view can be no a big deal. But in that time, married a brother’s widow can be a big moral problem because of Christian beliefs. Gertrude was Claudius sister in law, so she was untouchable for him; she was a forbidden fruit because of family tie.
In the social and political issue, there is not problem because first is the wellbeing of Denmark. In order to stable the country, it is better a person with experience that a young prince. By law Hamlet should become king of Denmark because he was the firs-born, but Claudius has more experience, and also he was cunning enough to win the hear of the queen who is not respectful of her mourning. Besides, it was not a big deal the incestuous relation ship between Gertrude and Claudius. This relation ship means stability and prosperity. In that moment that marriage represents that, but when the treason was uncover all wellbeing of Denmark in in danger.
Claudius, in my personal opinion, is not flawed human being because he is tempt by ambition and he is not a victim of circumstances. He wanted the throne and his brother wife, so he in a disgusting way, he acquires Denmark. In my point of view, Claudius worst mistake is kill his brother because his ambition leave him with not moral. Claudius’ situation (his instability in throne and his scare about his murder) is not a tragedy because he just lives the consequences that bring with itself a bad action.
Hi Graciela, I enjoyed reading your ideas about Hamlet. I agree that the motives behind the killing of the King by Claudius are not clear. We all assume it is for power or money, could it have been simply to marry the queen, a fit of jealousy perhaps. I also agree that she was untouchable, although I felt more as if he (the ghost) wanted her to suffer a long and lonely life. Your interpretations of the social and political implications are very good as well. I agree that the reason the marriage probably went off without any real dispute was due to the concern over the stability of the country. I like how you point out that his desire to fulfill his ambitions has left him without morals and that it cannot be a tragedy because he is reaping what he has sowed.
ReplyDeleteI liked your ideas about the story of Hamlet. In this time period it seems that people stopped at nothing to get what they wanted, murder, lies and ruin of everything that got in their way! I found it interesting that the "Ghost of Hamlet's father" was in a purgatory state himself for his own crimes I am sure. I feel that the motives Claudius had were very clear. He sought after everything his brother possessed and set out to ruin his life and he defiantly succeeded in doing that. I am not sure that his own death was in the plans, however, I feel he underestimated Hamlet and The Queens strength.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading your blog post, it was both informative and interesting. I can also say that I agree with your ideas on you own opinion of Claudius. I like how you didn't make him sound completely pure evil because I agree with you that yes indeed he was just a flawed character. We are all people and we each have a good side and a bad side. I think some of Claudius's actions were morally wrong and evil but just because some of the things he did in order to become King were very wrong does not give us the right to judge him solely as pure evil human being.
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