Claudius as Evil in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Essay -- William Sha

Claudius as Evil in Hamlet by William Shakespeare The abstract concept of abomination has vastly transformed throughout forgiving history, ranging for the supernatural and mystical to the very humans amongst whom we live. In modern times, evil has become an entirely ambiguous term. Who is evil? What is evil? Men like Adolph Hitler and ibn Talal Hussein Hussein have been garnered with the term evil for their atrocities against fellow humans. Now it seems evil has a solely human significance when a person violates the individual rights of others on a massive scale, he/she is evil. In Shakespeares time the Elizabethan era evil had a similar, but somewhat altered connotation in the human mind. Evil was an entity that violated the English Christian monarchial tradition. Therefore, a man such as Claudius, from Shakespeares play Hamlet, a cold-blooded murderer and a ruthless manipulator, who uses rank deeds to usurp the thrown is in direct violation with the Elizabethan societal norms, and hence he is an evil character. In the Elizabethan era, the royal public opinion poll was viewed as divinely touched and hence any action against the crown was an action against matinee idol. Claudius dismisses matinee idols right to control the crown by committing a murder most foul (I.v.27), yet he concedes that theres such divinity doth hedge a king (IV.v.121). Claudius admits that God influences the monarchy and yet he chooses to violate the divine monarchial progression. Hamlet recognizes Claudius evil nature beyond simply the murder of his father Hamlet sees that Claudius is corrupting all of Denmark. Claudius curb is compared to an unweeded garden/That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature/Possess it merely (I.ii.135-7), his influence causing the destruction of a previously beautiful environment. Claudius infectious evil must be eliminated, and Hamlet feels he is the only man who can do anything he pulls out all the stops and in the end accomplishes his goal. ability Hamlets foul and most unnatural murder (I.v.25) tops Claudius list of egregious sins, but most of his offenses are psychological rather than physical. exploitation his mastery of manipulation, Claudius, the incestuous and adulterate beast managed to win to his shameful lust the will of the virtuous queen, Gertrude (I.v.42-6). Gertrude could not be persuaded to switch husbands without a little literal tricker... ...er it be through direct divine action or controlled action of another hence, Hamlet crusades against Claudius and eventually triumphs. A trail of bodies lines Hamlets caterpillar tread towards vengeance, but Claudius is revealed, the yet unknowing world is toldHow these things came aboutOf carnal, bloody and unnatural actsOf deaths put on by cunning and forced causeAnd, in this upshot, purposes mistook steady downn on th inventors heads.(V.ii.359-64)Claudius true nature is exposed his treachery and heresy is fully recounted, and presumably he is sentenced to e ternal damnation for his moral infractions. Gods will prevails in a fundamentally Christian tale of murder in the name of self-interest and revenge in the name of legal expert and morality.Works CitedJoseph, Bertram. The Theme. Conscience and the King. London Chatto & Windus, Ltd., 1953. 130-51.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Cyrus Hoy. New York W. W. Norton, 1992.Spencer, Theodore. Hamlet and the Nature of Reality. Journal of English Literary History (December, 1938) 253-77.