How Is King Claudius Unethical Character

Words: 1279
Pages: 6
Open Document
In life, people possess many different character traits. Some character traits are good, but others not so much. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and today’s society, the readers find many characters with diverse traits. Some were kind, considerate, and devoted to helping others. Then, others were rude, dishonest, and wicked. These people only wanted to do things that benefit themselves. King Claudius is one of the characters in Hamlet that possesses bad qualities of a person. After reading of Hamlet, the readers find that Claudius murdered his brother, married his brother’s wife, and planned two ways to kill Hamlet. In Act 1, Scene 2 of Hamlet, King Claudius reveals many unethical aspects of his character through his first two speeches. Claudius …show more content…
King Claudius seemed to be very unsympathetic towards Hamlet’s unending grief. He began his speech by explaining to Hamlet that it was “sweet and commendable in [his] nature…/ to [mourn for his] father” (1.2. 87-88), but Hamlet needed to “…know [that his] father lost a father, [and] that father lost” (1.2. 89-90). The first few lines of Claudius’s speech showed a little sign of a caring quality, but it was quickly covered up by his cold-hearted thoughts. He approached the topic of his brother’s death with Hamlet as nicely as possible. Claudius complemented Hamlet saying that is was sweet of him to grief for his father, but he really thought that Hamlet should move on from the grieving. Claudius wanted to make the death of his brother seem as if it were something Hamlet should be able to get over quickly. He needed Hamlet to stop grieving so that his grief would not remind the public of King Hamlet’s death. Matthew Harkins described Claudius’s options for Hamlet perfectly. Harkins wrote that “Claudius [claimed] Hamlet [was] no more than a youth. As such he has only two options: to be unruly or to be subordinate.” (par.21). King Claudius wanted for Hamlet to be subordinate and obey him and his mother. Claudius went on to say that the survivors of the dead have an obligation to grieve, but Hamlet’s grief was what he thought of as “unmanly grief” (1.2. 94). King Claudius thought that Hamlet was showing an intention that was “most incorrect to heaven” (1.2. 95). According to Claudius, Hamlet’s heart was weak and hurt and his mind was impatient. Claudius needed to try and get Hamlet to feel as if he should move on from his grieving stage. He then moved on to telling Hamlet that his obsessive grief was a crime against heaven, against the dead, and a crime against nature. King Claudius tried to convince Hamlet that he should “throw to earth/ [his] unprevailing woe…”
Show More

Related Documents: How Is King Claudius Unethical Character

Hamlet Essay

In the play Hamlet, we see characters that are looking to seek revenge for the murder of their fathers. In the end though, the resolution of each vengeance highlights the inadequacy of the act. Hamlet stood anticipating for the perfect moment to kill King Claudius because he wanted to murder him during a sin. During the majority of the play, it is this inner struggle to seek revenge that ultimately corrupts his self-being. After the players perform their act, Hamlet talks to himself when he says…

Words 1685 - Pages 7

Analysis Of Hamlet's First Soliloquy

and dissatisfaction with his life. Hamlet feels deep anguish and grief at the recent death of his great father, King Hamlet, whom he admired. He feels betrayed by his mother, Gertrude, for remarrying his uncle Claudius so quickly. His grief is multiplied by his mother’s marriage to a man much “inferior,” to his father (Al-Ogaili). Although Hamlet is upset, he does not want to articulate how he feels because it would trouble Gertrude, “within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous ears had left…

Words 1651 - Pages 7