Claudius Soliloquies In Hamlet

Solan

2/XX/18

Peters

H

Revere him! Praise him! The New King’s Explosive Birth!

The tragedy of Hamlet throws many characters at the reader with small bits of dialogue to establish their individual character, however specific characters receive page long soliloquies to further develop their personalities and give them certain traits and idiosyncrasies. Claudius presents himself as a fair gentleman, however his words reveal him to be a superficial charmer, manipulative and a corruptive man, making it perfectly believable when it is revealed that he was the one who murdered King Hamlet.

A superficial charmer tends to be verbally smooth and and engages insincerely, and Claudius’ soliloquy demonstrates him to be this. Claudius requests Hamlet

His own selfish wishes and desires don’t apply to only himself, but he aims to spread them across those close to him. He has already won over Queen Gertrude and the council, shown by the fact that his is permitted to marry Gertrude and rule as king, so now his corrosive aspirations spread to Hamlet. The way Claudius will corrupt Hamlet is by getting him to accept the new king, and Claudius as a father figure. “With no less nobility of love” (1.2.110) he tells Hamlet, “Than that which dearest father bears his son” (1.2.111) He wishes for Hamlet to think of him like he had his father, as Hamlet is the unfitting piece in his puzzle; but Claudius needs him to fit, governing him into the role, calling Hamlet “our chiefest courtier, cousin and son” (1.2.117) Claudius needs Hamlet to think of him the way Claudius wants; Hamlet is still in complete opposition of Claudius’ reign, and Hamlet is incensed about his mother seemingly jumping from the previous king to his brother in the span of 2 months. Everything Claudius has done has been to the disliking of Hamlet, and for his plan of summenting himself into the monarchy of Denmark to succeed, he needs everything the way he wants it, incestious, curodded and corrupeted.

Claudius’ soliloquy to Hamlet reveals the hidden traits of his superficial charm, manipulation and corruption. The new king’s covert, underhanded attributes paint the picture of an inglorious sultan who aims to appeal only his own goals. This portrayal is perfectly in character when it is revealed that Claudius had murdered his own brother for the purpose of the throne and the queen; although he acts as a benevolent king, he is simply a murdering