How Claudius Is More Responsib Term paper

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How Claudius Is More Responsible for Hamlet Being A Tragedy

William Shakespeare s play Hamlet is a very dramatic play, involving many conniving people, murder, and an overall atmosphere of suspense. It is therefore referred to as a tragedy. There are many aspects in Hamlet that make it one of Shakespeare s best tragedies. There are numerous murders including the untimely death of the innocent and pure Ophelia, and the murder of two loving fathers: King Hamlet and Polonius. There are also numerous revenge plots including those of Laertes, Hamlet and Fortinbras. As the play progresses, hatred becomes evident between many characters of the play. After a deeper study of the play however, it becomes evident that two characters are more responsible for it being a tragedy, Hamlet and Claudius. However, after examining Claudius conniving character, and the facts that he s responsible for causing the numerous revenge plots and leaving Fortinbras with a bloody kingdom, it becomes evident that he is more responsible for the tragedy within the play.

Claudius is more responsible for the tragedy within the play because of his conniving character. This scheming character of his is highlighted when he aggressively demands the king of England to kill Hamlet upon his arrival.

And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught--

As my great power thereof may give thee sense,

Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red

After the Danish sword, and thy free awe

Pays homage to us--thou mayst not coldly set

Our sovereign process; which imports at full,

By letters congruing to that effect,

The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England;

For like the hectic in my blood he rages,

And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done,

Howe'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun. (IV, iii, 61-69)

Claudius creates an extensive plan here. Fearing that Hamlet may reveal his guilt, he decides to eliminate his enemy. Some may argue that Claudius sent Hamlet to England to ensure his safety. Claudius claimed that this would be a good way of restoring his sanity, and hiding him from those angered by him killing Polonius. However, the fact that he wants Hamlet killed shows otherwise. It shows his motives behind sending Hamlet to England were purely evil. They backfire and ultimately end in the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Trying to hide his increasing evident guilt, Claudius creates this treacherous plan that eventually ends disastrously and tragically. Later, Claudius once again conspires a devious plan to kill Hamlet, except with Laertes this time. His scheming plot here is more complex however, when he doesn t make just one, but two plans to insure Hamlet s death.

KING CLAUDIUS: To thine own peace. If he be now return'd,

As checking at his voyage, and that he means

No more to undertake it, I will work him

To an exploit, now ripe in my device

Under the which he shall not choose but fall:

And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,

But even his mother shall uncharge the practise

And call it accident.

LAERTES: My lord, I will be ruled;

The rather, if you could devise it so

That I might be the organ. (IV, vii, 58-69)

Claudius devious conniving character is very clear here. Not only does he want to kill Hamlet, but he also wants to make it look like an accident, making the plan as secretive and surreptitious so that even Gertrude won t find out. To insure his sophisticated plan works, he uses Laertes grief towards his father s death to pull in the young man as an accomplice. This conniving plan ultimately ends with not only the death of Hamlet, but also Gertrude, Laertes and Claudius himself. This shows how truly destructive Claudius plans turn out to be. It therefore becomes clear, after examining the disastrous results of the plans caused by Claudius conniving character, that in fact he is more responsible for the tragedy within the play.

The numerous revenge plots inspired by Claudius is another reason why Hamlet is a tragedy. For instance, near the start of the play, great feelings of anger and aggression overcome Hamlet when is informed that Claudius killed his father.

GHOST: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

HAMLET: Murder! GHOST Murder most foul, as in the best it is;

But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

HAMLET: Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift

As meditation or the thoughts of love,

May sweep to my revenge.

GHOST: . . . but know, thou noble youth,

The serpent that did sting thy father's life

Now wears his crown. ( I, v, 29-45 )

Claudius influence into Hamlet s revenge plot is clear here. He is the sole reason why Hamlet seeking revenge for his father s death. He is angered greatly and very distraught at the fact that his father s own brother could be the murderer. Hamlet thus embarks on his plan to avenge his father s death. His revenge plot is a catastrophe, no only killing Claudius, but also Polonius which later causes Ophelia to become mad and commit suicide. Truly, his revenge plot leads the play into being fatal, giving Hamlet a very suspenseful and dramatic atmosphere. Claudius later inspires revenge in Laertes when he persuades him to avenge his father s death by killing Hamlet.

KING CLAUDIUS: Not that I think you did not love your father;

But that I know love is begun by time;

And that I see, in passages of proof,

Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.

There lives within the very flame of love

A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it;

And nothing is at a like goodness still;

For goodness, growing to a plurisy,

Dies in his own too much: that we would do

We should do...

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