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

Claudius as Evil in crossroads by William Shakespeare The abstract concept of worthless has vastly transformed passim human history, ranging for the supernatural and mystical to the very humans amongst whom we live. In sophisticated times, evil has become an entirely ambiguous term. Who is evil? What is evil? manpower like Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein have been garnered with the term evil for their atrocities against confrere 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, scarcely 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 set out deeds to usurp the thrown is in direct violation with the Elizabethan socie tal norms, and hence he is an evil character. In the Elizabethan era, the g all toldant confidential information was viewed as divinely touched and hence any live up to against the crown was an action against God. Claudius dismisses Gods right to control the crown by committing a murder most suffocate (I.v.27), yet he concedes that theres such divinity doth hedge a exponent (IV.v.121). Claudius admits that God influences the monarchy and yet he chooses to violate the divine monarchial progression. Hamlet recognizes Claudius evil reputation beyond simply the murder of his father Hamlet sees that Claudius is debauch all of Denmark. Claudius reign 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 en d accomplishes his goal. King Hamlets foul and most violent murder (I.v.25) tops Claudius list of egregious sins, only if most of his offenses are psychological rather than physical. Using his mastery of manipulation, Claudius, the incestuous and adulterate beast managed to win to his shameful lust the will of the thoroughgoing(a) queen, Gertrude (I.v.42-6). Gertrude could not be persuaded to switch husbands without a little verbal tricker... ...er it be through direct divine action or controlled action of some other hence, Hamlet crusades against Claudius and eventually triumphs. A trail of bodies lines Hamlets fashion 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 mistookFalln on th inventors heads.(V.ii.359-64)Claudius true nature is capable his treachery and heresy is fully recounted, and presumably he is sen tenced to eternal eternal damnation for his moral infractions. Gods will prevails in a basically Christian tale of murder in the name of self-interest and retaliation in the name of justice 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-fashioned York W. W. Norton, 1992.Spencer, Theodore. Hamlet and the Nature of Reality. Journal of English Literary History (December, 1938) 253-77.