Hamlet and Claudius’ Power Struggle Essay - 1852 Words

One main theme that arises in the Hamlet is the power struggle between Hamlet and Claudius. The main problem is between Hamlet and Claudius; they are in an ongoing battle throughout the play to see who will rise with the power of the throne. Claudius is the antagonist in the story and has multiple people under him that follow his every rule (Innes). He is a manipulative character who seeks revenge on Hamlet through other people he knows. On the other hand, Hamlet is the protagonist of the story, he is very unhappy after finding out the news of how his father had been killed (Innes). He is overtaken though by the ghost of his father, Old Hamlet, and is seen to become mad as a consequence. Although Hamlet seeks revenge against his†¦show more content†¦So the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown. (1.5.42-47) The ghost had said the soliloquy to show how the city of Denmark was affected by the Claudius’s actions. Claudius being called was a symbolic moment, it symbolizes the serpent as an introduction of sin into the world (R). He is now known to be causing sins to the world starting with incest and marrying the King’s wife. Although to others Claudius is seen as a serpent, he knows that he has done wrong. In his one and only soliloquy of the whole play he is praying and says: 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, Though inclination be as sharp as will: My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent (3.3.40-44) He shows in the soliloquy that he has done wrong and he feels now after that the guilt that he is witnessing is stronger than the reason for killing his brother. He feels terrible about the death of his brother but he must continue with his plan to obtain the power instead of allowing Hamlet to have it. He manipulates Laertes, who Claudius has turned against Hamlet, to help in Hamlets murder. He coaxes Laertes to have a duel with Hamlet so that Hamlet will be killed, Laertes asks â€Å"to cut his throat i’th’ the church† (4.7.123).Show MoreRelatedShakespeare Is The Greatest Masterpiece Ever Written? Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pageslove, war, class struggles, sex, betrayal, grief, and family. Shakespeare is relevant and Hamlet is the greatest masterpiece ever written! This relevance is proven within Shakespeare’s complex character development of Hamlet, an empathetic young man dealing with internal struggles on how to handle the death of his father. 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