Blog 6 Hamlet

Claudius is like most people when he truly desires to have something no matter what. He was not purely evil, but he was not just merely a flawed person. To say he was purely evil would mean that there would be not a single ounce or hint of good. Also, to say that someone is not a flawed person is saying that they are perfect and above everyone else. Claudius was a flawed person, but he was more than just flawed. It is also possible to call the story “The Tragedy of Claudius, King of Denmark”, but that puts too much focus on Claudius.

Claudius was an evil man, but like most evil men he was not purely evil. “Thanks, dear my lord. O my offence is rank, it smells to heaven, It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, a brother’s murder. Pray can I not, through inclination be as sharp as will” (3.3.35-39). This shows that there was a certain amount of regret for what it did. He was praying as hard and with the same determination that he did when he killed his brother. He was praying with fear because he wanted to still go to heaven so he was trying to cleanse himself of his crimes.

            On the opposite side, Claudius was not merely a flawed individual. Typically, “merely” flawed people share flaws with other people that are things that must be constantly battled to overcome. An example of this is when Claudius finds out that Hamlet killed Polonius. Claudius said, “O heavy deed! … Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered? It will be laid to us, whose providence should have kept short, restrained, and out, of haunt” (4.2.13, 16-18). This shows that Claudius was more concerned about himself than Hamlet’s mental state. He was more concerned that he might get blamed for Hamlet’s deeds. This is not exactly the way the “merely” flawed people think through situations involving family.

If the title of this play had been changed to “The Tragedy of Claudius, King of Denmark”, it would indicate a greater focus on what the king goes through. While the king plays a huge role in the play, he does not deal with the same struggles Hamlet goes through.  While talking with the queen Hamlet said, “You are the queen, your husband’s brother’s wife, and would it were not so, you are my mother” (3.4.14-16). Hamlet essentially summarized what has caused all his suffering and hardship. Claudius was the cause of Hamlet’s suffering. Naming the play “The Tragedy of Claudius” would indicate that Claudius is the victim rather than the starting point of all the suffering.