NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
One of William Shakespeare's most profound works is the tragic play Hamlet; this tragedy involves many themes and subplots of which includes corruption. The chief corruption is of Claudius, the new king of Denmark; his corruption begins, but not ends with, the murder of the late King Hamlet for the throne. Claudius is conniving, manipulative, and spurious, doing everything for his own benefit. He causes those who believe his caring and understanding facade to become entangled in the web of deception and corruption that he has created because of his own faltered characteristics. Claudius' unscrupulous behavior in efforts to pursue the throne make him the antagonist of the play as shown through his thoughts and actions; it is his demeanor of manipulation and depravity that lead to the demise of Gertrude, Ophelia, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and also yields his own death. The second scene of Act I introduces the new king of Denmark, Claudius, in a formal appearance at court.
He makes a speech and sincerely expresses his regret and sorrow for his deceased brother. Through yet of Hamlet our dear brothers death The memory be green, and that of us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him Together with remembrance of ourselves Claudius here in this statement, shows himself to be caring and sincere of his mourning for his brothers death. However, when he is alone with Gertrude and Hamlet in the chambers, he shows a different side of himself. He tells Hamlet to accept his fathers death and move on. [... ] But to persevere/ In obstinate condole ment is a course/ Of impious stubbornness. Tis unmanly grief (1. 2. 98 - 100).
Claudius is quick to act differently to fit his purpose to bare himself to be true of his feelings. First he tells his supporters that they will be together with remembrance of ourselves (1. 2. 7), then tells Hamlet to move on from mourning on his fathers death. Claudius uses people to get the effect that he desires, which is to not be found out about his murder of King Hamlet. Gertrude is a victim of Claudius foul ambition and improbity and is manipulated to think unsettling thoughts of her own son.
When Polonius confronts the king of what he believes to be the cause of Hamlets lunacy, Claudius reports this to Gertrude. KING. He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath [Polonius] found The head and source of all your sons distemper. QUEEN.
I doubt it is no other but the main His fathers death and our o'er hasty marriage. (2. 2. 54 - 57) Claudius makes her think that what Polonius has found is true of Hamlet's condition. Previously, during the King and Queen's visit with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he appears to be, to Gertrude and the spies, that he is genuinely worried about Hamlet. Though he is troubled by not knowing Hamlet's reasons for acting peculiar, it is for his own advantage to continue to conceal his guilt and not for the sake of bettering his step-son's grievance. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are to be considered only pawns in Claudius' pursuit of retaining his undeserved reign as king.
He uses them to spy on Hamlet, but says his reasoning to be all in concern for Hamlet's strange behavior. Moreover did we long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something you have heard Of Hamlet's transformation, so call it, Sith nor th' exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was Claudius goes on to tell them that he called upon them because they are childhood friends of the prince and therefore, might have more persuasion over Hamlet to find out the cause of his so-called madness. They are sponges and they should but "soaks up the King's countenance, / his rewards, his authorities" (4. 1. 15 - 16). Claudius uses them to get what he wants, as Hamlet tells his traitorous friends: "[... ] When he needs/ what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, / and, sponge, you shall be dry again" (4. 1. 19 - 21). It is obvious that the king will do anything and exploit anyone to find out what it is exactly that Hamlet has been thinking about.
Another one of his victims is the innocent Ophelia. Claudius uses his pressure over Ophelias father, Polonius, to make him tell her to spy on Hamlet. He again uses his supposed worry about Hamlets condition to convince Ophelia to question Hamlet. Claudius then makes an aside that again shows his character to be treacherous and remorseless. O, tis too true! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience.
The harlots cheek beauties with plastering art Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden! (3. 1. 50 - 55) The king shows himself characteristically to be spurious with this quote. He compares himself to this harlot because like her, he conceals his true ugliness with painted words, in Claudius' case. He has hidden his veritable self by using words to manipulate the thoughts of people and benefit from there gullibility. There is a scene where Claudius appears to have a change of heart. In his bed chamber he says: "O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven; / It hath the primal eldest curse upon 't, / A brother's murder" (3. 3. 36 - 38).
Claudius' praying is to serve the purpose of prevent sinning and to gain forgiveness once one has fallen. "To be for stalled ere we come to fall, / Or pardoned being down? Then I'll look up" (3. 3. 48 - 50). It seems as if Claudius' character could have a drastic transition. Only a few lines later, though, we see the true King come out. He is too concerned with his ambition to truly regret his crime and pray for forgiveness in fear of losing his position in society. "May one be pardoned and retain th' offense?" (3. 3. 56).
The king wants to leave behind his guilty conscience, but not his wealth nor his crown. His praying scene is nothing but him kneeling and debating the consequences of asking for forgiveness. So it is that he should say: "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; / Words without thoughts never to heaven go" (3. 3. 97 - 98). Claudius exploits these characters' willfulness to cooperate with him in his scheming. Since Hamlet has taken a point to have his revenge on Claudius, the walls come tumbling in around the king and those who have also helped him in his devious plans.
However, the characters that do help Claudius do not meet their end in the order that the king has violated their trust. Ophelia dies as a result of her lunacy as an after affect of her father's murder by Hamlet. The only reason Polonius is killed is he is a pestilent, meddlesome man whom Hamlet presumes is Claudius behind a curtain when he throws the dagger out and stabs the spy. When she finds out that her former love has murdered her father, she goes insane; while picking flowers she falls into the lake and drowns as a result of her heavy garments. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Claudius' puppets in the sense that they do anything to get on his good side, anything being their willingness to murder their own friend. After the murder of Polonius, they are sent with Hamlet to England to have him killed.
when Hamlet finds this out, he changes the names on the note to their names, and they instead, are killed. Their death is only a product of their own stupidity and eagerness to advance themselves with the royals. Had they not agreed to help in the murder of their friend Hamlet, they would not have ended up dead. It is Claudius' abuse of these men that lead them to their death.
The Queen is gullible to the King's word in the beginning of the play. As it continues, though, she finds out that she has been lied to and loved a murderer. She complies with Hamlet in trying to catch Claudius in a trap and she also meets her death. Gertrude is killed when she drinks from the poisoned cup that is meant for Hamlet. "It is the poisoned cup. It is too late" (5. 2. 298).
Claudius receives his reign as king unfairly, by murdering his own brother for the crown. To conceal his horrible guilt and shame, he manipulates people to make him seem as if he is truly sincere of his emotions. He also uses his manipulation to get people to do his spying on Hamlet for him. This inevitably leads to those certain characters death as well as his own. The web of lies and deceit that he has created tangles those who chose to walk to close to this object and withholds them all to their bitter demise. [/b]
Free research essays on topics related to: rosencrantz and guildenstern, fathers death, spy on hamlet, king of denmark, tells hamlet
Research essay sample on Spy On Hamlet Rosencrantz And Guildenstern
