Sunday, May 29, 2011

How are the two kings, Hamlet's dead father and Claudius, contrasted with one another throughout the play?

In addition to the superb answer above, King Hamlet & the Ghost can be juxtaposed with Claudius in terms of their own language and actions and not just on Hamlet's obviously biased soliloquy.


Both have killed to gain or maintain power. King Hamlet killed Old Fortinbras to gain lands in Poland.  Claudius obviously kills King Hamlet to get the throne.


Both loved Gertrude. The Ghost tells Hamlet to leave her to heaven, and Claudius tries to get her to stop drinking the poisoned chalice.


Both are blind. King Hamlet was blind to his wife and brother's incest and adultery.  Claudius is blind toward Hamlet and the effects of his incestuous and murderous crimes on the state.


Both form unnatural relationships. The Ghost, a supernatural being, elicits a mortal (his son, no less) to carry out what he should do (haunt Claudius).  Claudius' relationship with Gertrude is full of incest, adultery, deceit.


Both want revenge. King Hamlet wants revenge on Claudius, and Claudius wants revenge on Hamlet.  They both incite Hamlet to enact revenge.


Both use pawns as part of revenge. The Ghost uses Hamlet to carry out his plan, while Claudius uses Polonius' family, R & G.  All of their pawns, by the way, die.


King Hamlet (Ghost) will go to heaven, and Claudius will go to hell. The former is a victim of immorality, while the former is an agent of it.


The Ghost is a better performer than Claudius. His lines are war-like, gothic, menacing.  Claudius, especially at prayer, seems much weaker by comparison.

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