Claudius, Gertrude and King Hamlet
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Hamlet draws his general condemnation of women's fidelity from his mother Gertrude's "incestuous" marriage with the despised Claudius. I think we can assume that the Prince never cared much for his uncle, but by now he has grown to hate the man who replaced his idolized and adored father both as King and as husband to Gertrude.
The Ghost complains of "my most seeming-virtuous Queen," who fell for the blandishments of an "adulterate beast" of a brother whose "witchcraft of wit" and "traitorous gifts" stole her heart and loyalty away. Young Hamlet also takes a share in the Ghost's assessment of Claudius: a satyr in comparison with the Hyperion that was King Hamlet.
Let's examine the evidence in the play to build a character study of the late King of Denmark. Look at the Ghost's words, Horatio's dialogue with Marcellus, Hamlet's private thoughts in his first soliloquy and brief exchange with Horatio…etc. What sort of man, King, husband and father was King Hamlet?
Look then at what you know of Claudius beyond Hamlet's disdain and loathing: what qualities in him attracted Gertrude in the first place, and why? Why did she not adore King Hamlet as his son did?
This will take some thought. You might be smart to make a first entry assessing King Hamlet, then return a day later and post a comment on Gertrude and Claudius.
We'll have a lot to talk about on Wednesday.
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33 comments:
I think that King Hamlet was much more of a leader and a soldier than a family man. When he speaks to his son, he doesn't seem harsh, exactly, but a bit stern and aloof. Since this was around the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, King Hamlet probably wasn't very involved in the education and raising of his son, and entrusted these duties to Gertrude and/or servants. I think Hamlet Jr. idolized his father because he was brave and a good king and warrior, and also because he did not spend a lot of time with him, which caused him to seem him as sort of a heroic, perfect, slightly unreal god.
Because Gertrude spent a lot more time with him than did her son, she probably didn't see him as a god, and knew his flaws. She may have been attracted to Claudius because she wanted a lighter and more amusing relationship. It seems like Claudius is always drinking and feasting and entertaining himself, and maybe Gertrude wanted a little more of that and a little less of warring (is that a word?) and ruling. Claudius is the exact opposite of King Hamlet in that respect, which probably attracted Gertrude to him.
Young Hamlet calls his father “So excellent a king”(act I, scene ii, line 139), even comparative to the sun God Hyperion. This description leads me to think Hamlet sees Claudius as inferior in comparison to his brother. At King Hamlet’s passing all seemed grieved but none as much as young Hamlet, who’s “memory be green”(I, ii, 2) with the death. As a Ghost the King is vindictive, in his purgatory state he calls for Hamlet to “To revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (1, V, 25). Hamlet practically idolizes his dead father, but through the Ghost scene we see the King’s fault. Although he was unjustly murdered, he wants revenge, and you feel his warrior sense in this scene, ruthless and restless, bitter toward his former wife for her remarriage, enraged his brother could get away with such crimes. I think the King was generally a good man and good king, I do not sense a resentment towards the passed King, but at the same time Hamlet does exaggerate his greatness, just as any son would for a passed Father. I agree with Shruti, that the wife of a man always knows a different side of a man then their child would- and this is reflective in Gertrude’s attitude towards her passed husband, and relationship with her new, frivolous husband.
King Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude appears to have been more of a formal, noble marriage. Saying, "From me, whose love was of that dignity," the Ghost suggests that Hamlet's marriage to Gertrude was very traditional and left little room for casual interaction (I, Scene 5, 53). The young Hamlet's opinion of celebration as he looks down upon the banquet also reflects his father's opinion of such informal festivities: "It is a custom more honored in the breach than the observance" (I, Scene 4, 18).
Claudius, on the other hand, appears much less rigid and prideful, not hesitating to break his brother's tradition of abstaining from celebration. The Ghost realizes Claudius' appeal to the lady folk, saying "With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts-O wicked wit, and gifts that have the power so to seduce!" (I, Scene 5, 48). The former king is appalled by these characteristics, so it is clear that he did not exhibit anything resembling them himself. These traits that his brother lacked are surely a factor in Gertrude's attraction to Claudius. To the young Hamlet, his father would have been the noble, prideful man that he imagined a king should be. This admiration is not present in Gertrude, who appreciates a king for his character, not outward appearances. An attractive personality is not a gift of Hamlet, but Claudius, and thus Gertrude hesitates not to cling to her new husband so quickly.
As various others have mentioned, King Hamlet is seen as a warrior, he recently defeated the King of Denmark in a fierce battle. Horatio says that King Hamlet was a “goodly king” (187). Logical Horatio would look at the King’s actions to make such a judgment, and therefore, I think it’s safe to say that Hamlet Sr. was a fine king. He ruled well, protected the people, and was a courageous and brave man. As a boy, Hamlet would be raised to think these things were of upmost importance. Seeing his father in this light, it’s natural that Hamlet would idolize him. He even compares him to Hyperion in his first soliloquy. In the same speech, Hamlet reveals a bit about how he views himself. “My father’s brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules”. Young Hamlet doesn’t believe that he is a strong fighter, and because he perceives himself as weak, it’s also easy to understand why he would worship his father even more. I think the important distinction to make is that being a good king does not necessarily equal being a good husband or even a good person. His wife, Gertrude falls in love with his brother, Claudius, an act that neither King Hamlet, nor young Hamlet can fully understand or explain. However, I think I can. To be in love, one needs to feel cherished, wanted, trusted. Although the former King might have been a great ruler, was he tender and loving enough to his wife? When he appears as a ghost, he’s described as armed, head to toe, with a staff and helmet. He is pale, his beard is grizzled, and when he speaks, he is blunt; there are no flowery phrases within his speech. I think we can also safely assume that the king would be away from home a lot, fighting. Perhaps not a problem to an adoring son, but to a wife who wants to love and to be loved, his cold and uninviting demeanor would not have inspired that loyalty. And then we have Claudius. Claudius is a master of words. He knows exactly how to manipulate his tone and his word choice so that he benefits the most from the situation. We can see this very clearly in scene two as he smoothly transitions from one topic to another. If he wanted Gertrude to fall in love with him, I’m sure he would have no problem with the task. He would know exactly what to say to her, how to say it, and so on. Gertrude, living the lonely life she had, would have easily chosen the man who paid her compliments and was sweet and gentle to her. What I’m most curious about, however, is did Claudius love Gertrude? Was his seduction done out of true feeling, or was it merely part of the plot? I’ve done some searching in the book, but haven’t come any solid conclusion. What do you think?
King Hamlet was a noble warrior, an upstanding pillar for his country and his family, especially his son Hamlet. Young Hamlet idolizes his father, as most boys would and compares him to Hyperion, the sun god, the center of Young Hamlet's world. When it comes to fathering, the relationship between the elder and young Hamlet can only be inferred, and during that time period, it was probably a detached relationship founded respect and admiration rather than love.
The same can be said about the marriage between King Hamlet and Gertrude. It was probably arranged as a way of securing the kingdom but was founded not on true love, but honor. This is probably why Gertrude seems to prefer Claudius to King Hamlet, she may have loved him before or was at least more attracted to him. King Hamlet's ghost did sound envious of his brother who had the "wicked wit and gifts, that have the power so to seduce" (Act 1, Scene 5) the Queen, proof that Claudius was possibly a better lover than the busy King Hamlet who seemed to be more invested in his position as king, above all else. The relationship between the King and Queen was not so much emotional because the ghost focuses mostly on the physical aspect of the betrayal (the marriage shortly after the King's death) and not much else. The ghost seems bothered mostly by the dishonor and disrespect that came from the marriage between Claudius and Gertrude, not that he was hurt because he loved Gertrude sincerely.
Um, can I just say I think Callies new nickname should be Doctor Love? I think the MLB needs to take a leaf out of her book 'cause she's not even juicing and she hit that one way out of the ballpark! Yes, a king being a good ruler does not mean he's a good lover. Hamlet being away at Wittenburg meant that all he would have heard about Denmark was the state of economic and political affairs and the occasional formal letter from Papa and Mama bear. As Callie pointed out, King Hamlet having amazing political and economics skills doesn't mean he wouldn't be the first one voted out on the bacheloret. I see King Hamlet as being a lot like BYU's football team this year. They look great on paper, but if you go to the games the're really boring to watch.
An interesting side note to remember is that Hamlet has been attending a school that, depending on the time period, Martin Luther was currently teaching at, or had taught at a century or two before. Martin Luther married Katharina Von Bora who was a Nun (don't ask me how that works) who pioneered equality in marriage. There is a possibility that some of that attitude pervaded in Wittenburg at the time Hamlet was there, which perhaps suggests why Hamlet allowed his Mother to remarry and remain Queen as opposed to seizing the thrown after his fathers death.
Wow, I definitely agree with Callie. She articulated all of my thoughts in a thorough paragraph, so this post may a regurgitation of what she and everyone else before me have already stated. Claudius is like the guy that Gertrude wants to be with; fun and a bit carefree. But King Hamlet is the guy that Gertrude should be with; high in rank and a traditional leader. It’s a modern romantic comedy of sorts ― well, except for the whole people dying part of the story. In the end she had to follow her heart and it was pointing to Claudius; the heart wants what it wants. “Why she would hang on to him as if increase in appetite had grown by what it fed on,” makes the relationship incomplete, there seemed to something missing from all of it. King Hamlet’s spirit is wearing the “very armor he had on when the ambitious Norway combated;” even in death he carries himself like that of a soldier/warrior. Clearly the stability and glorification of the state was his priority and Gertrude felt like a high second, but second nonetheless.
Claudius on the other hand is near the Queen at all times, they rarely separate during the play. Claudius is the brains to King Hamlet’s bronze. He’s smart and he’s willing to reach out to Hamlet; instead of uniting the country over winning, he unites them with drinking. Hamlet respects King Hamlet for who he was to the state, but in the area of being a father, the King was lagging. When the Ghost appears Hamlets says “King” before stating “Father” in hoping for a response. The Ghost is “thy father’s spirit” but Hamlet is uneasy on the sheer magnitude of revenging his father, but would it have different if the “King” asked for revenge?
I find this wide difference of opinions as a fine example of the foundational variances between men and women. While King Hamlet is the same person throughout, both Prince Hamlet and Queen Gertrude view him through different tinted lenses.
Women, and most especially Queen Gertrude, generally seek love and affection in a relationship. Prince Hamlet professes that the Queen received what she wanted, saying of his father he was "so loving to my mother/That he might not beteem the winds of heaven/Visit her face too roughly." However, this action Prince Hamlet counts as love is not the same definition Gertrude has in mind. King Hamlet, as a good man should, is protective of his wife, metaphorically not allowing even the elements to harm her. But Gertrude longs for more, to be tenderly cherished and incessantly loved. By this, I do not mean to say that King Hamlet lacked these emotions toward his wife, but because of different ways men and women communicate, King Hamlet’s actions did not seem so affectionate to Gertrude. Feeling somewhat swept under the rug, Gertrude finds Claudius, a rather crafty man who knows how to please and enchant women. He may also have genuine intent, but, unlike King Hamlet’s, his method is more visible through Gertrude’s tinted lens.
Prince Hamlet, being himself male, understands King Hamlet as he really was. The King was a bone fide “man” in all aspects of the word. He protected his woman, he fought battles, and “did slay this Fortinbras,” the challenging lord of Norway. Prince Hamlet thus retains an admiration for his noble father. The King was mighty, not conniving as Hamlet views Claudius to be. His tinted lens is similar to most males, and consequently his father, resulting in a full appreciation of the King’s stature. Gertrude was not impressed by her husband’s manliness, blinded by her lens, not realizing the true devotion in the nature of King Hamlet.
King Hamlet is the type of king who has a strong presence. From the conversation between Horatio and Marcellus, we can conclude that his people, the people of Denmark viewed him as a “valiant” king (Act 1, Sc. 2, 96). He was a strong and powerful king who protected his people well. By the amour the ghost King Hamlet wore, Shakespeare implies that King Hamlet led his country by military power. He was a medieval king who fought for control. As a young boy, Hamlet must have admired the authority and force that his father possessed. King Hamlet was “so excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother that he might not beteem the winds of heaven” (Act 1, Sc. 2, 143). In Hamlet’s eyes, his father was far superior to his “satyr” uncle and very loving to his mother. He could not comprehend why his mother could so quickly forget the great King Hamlet. However, as many of my fellow classmates have pointed out, just because he was a great father in the eyes of Hamlet does not mean that he was a great husband. In contrast with King Hamlet, Claudius seems more gentle and friendly. Claudius, as exemplified in his speech to the court of Denmark, possesses great eloquence with his words and knows how to manipulate the feelings of another with his words. The militaristic King Hamlet did not possess this type of gentleness with his words. In the words of the ghost of King Hamlet, Claudius used the “witchcraft of his wit with traitorous gifts” to seduce his “most seeming virtuous queen” (Act 1, Sc. 5, 50). Claudius used his way with words to flatter Gertrude. Gertrude may admire King Hamlet as a strong man; however, the power does not make her love him. What she needed was not a powerful man, but one that was attentive to her, one like Claudius.
Also, commenting on what Callie brought up, I also wonder if Claudius truly loves Gertrude or if it’s just for show. Maybe he purposefully seduced her to get closer to the throne.
From the description we get from Hamlet Jr. about Hamlet Sr. I think I would have liked to have him as my father. You know, if I lived in that era. It sounds like he would have won "Best all around" in high school. Like what has been previously said, the late Hamlet protected his people and was well respected. We also discussed in class that Hamlet Sr. was not a partier unlike the new King Claudius.
I think King Claudius was able to win over Gertrude because she was in an unstable state when he made his moves. She was grieving over her husband's death and Claudius was there for her, able to take advantage of her being in that state. He is a good talker. Also, when Hamlet Sr. died Hamlet was away at school and so Claudius may have been one of the only people for Gertrude to turn to in her time of need.
King Hamlet was the ideal Teutonic King: a peerless warrior (he slew old King Fortinbras of Norway in single combat), a just ruler, a loving father, and symbol of the virtue to his people. The abillity to speak with eloquence, however, appears not to have been one of his strong suits. This fits the Scandanavian character: grim and determined, as demonstrated by their mythology (i.e. The Eddas, The Volsung Saga, Beowulf, etc.). He also appears to have been a lackluster lover, no doubt as severe in that respect as he appears to have been in many other aspects of his life. In the matter of his son alone he may have been less like his normal self. To most of the earth's peoples (and the Germans are no exception) children, particularly sons, were highly prized. Through them the parents could live on, at the very least in name. It would seem only natural that King Hamlet would show affection towards his son and heir.
Now to the matter of Claudius. If Hamlet was the ideal king of a medival germanic people, Claudius is more like a renaissance king: loquacious, outwardly intelligent, and a very talented politician. He is like unto the classical (Hellenic and Romantic) ideals of kinghood. If King Hamlet were Odin, than Claudius would be more like Zeus. He encapsulates the ideals of a ruler from the time of Shakespear: A King who is charming, lively, and above all talented at manipulating his followers. He is not a warrior, though. He is not as outwardly strong as his brother. To those unused to the idea of a politician-king he may even seem weak or wretched. It can be assumed that, despite his lack of apparent strength, he is no less charming and lively in romance than he is in matters of kingship, and is therefor reasonable to believe that Gertrude, weary of the strong and quiet type, might have found some fun in the extrovert who showered her with affection.
The King of Denmark was a man of his word and seemingly quick to anger (that part about smiting the Polacks on the ice in their sledges). He was a man raised to be a military king and hero, coming from a different class of men: the stoic silent type. This explains somewhat his aloofness with Hamlet, even though he obviously loves his son and his wife. Emotion wouldn't have tampered with most of his decisions, unless he decided something in anger.
Claudius on the other hand is a master of words as we can see from the moment he enters the play. He knows exactly what to say to gain the trust and homage of his knights and citizens. I think that maybe he has had a long term plan to gain Gertrude and the throne. This brings to my mind the question of what kind of husband Hamlet Sr. was. Was he jealous? I would think so. Being so often gone to war, and never knowing what his wife was doing would be enough to make anyone paranoid. When he was at home, he might have been domineering and clingy, qualities that would be repulsive to Gertrude after being allowed so much freedom. As part of his plan, Claudius would have fed the resentment that Gertrude was feeling, and slowly her affections would be transfered to Claudius, which really is too bad.
I agree with what everyone else has been saying about King Hamlet. Gertrude never really talks about him, so he seemed to have a greater impact on, if not better relationship with Hamlet than he did with his own wife. He was a great and respected ruler of Denmark but that most likely took up all his time which left little time for family. This seemed to be more of a common family dynamic in this time though, and Hamlet revered his father because of his many accomplishments as King and warrior rather than how he raised him. When his ghost appears to Hamlet he talks about how Claudius stole his wife but I’m not getting the impression that he was mad because he was really in love with her or just that his brother stole someone that belonged to him.
We’ve discussed in class how much Claudius enjoys hearing himself talk and that he doesn’t seem to know when to shut up, but he always has something to say and he articulates it well. He is the master of words but also the master of deception. If it is true that he poisoned King Hamlet, which I’m convinced it is, then he was able to murder his own brother without anyone suspecting or condemning him. He manipulates everyone into believing that his brother was killed in the battle of Norway and keep himself out of suspicion. He most likely married Gertrude just to gain position as King, because it would have been more likely that Hamlet would take the crown if he did not marry the Queen. I think that Gertrude and Claudius used each other, he to gain political status and her to keep it. She seems to be the type of woman that relies on men to get what she wants and when King Hamlet died she automatically turned to the next man who would give her the stability that she wants.
Prince Hamlet, being a young man, is biologically attracted to his father and will constantly seek the approval of his father. The fact that his father was King only strengthened that need to seek his father's approval thanks to the massive shoes he wanted to fill. King Hamlet was mainly a medieval-style warrior King, leading his country through extreme acts of bravery, mostly on the battlefield. This type of person is even more attractive to young men who have an inheirant need to be looked upon by his peers as a superior without the use of trickery, but by demonstrations of "manly" skill. The catch of this personality is although it can be attractive to women at first, it becomes a burden to maintain such a relationship full of stress, constantly worrying if a loved one will be coming home a hero or in a box. Unfortunately for King Hamlet the only person around to keep his wife company while he is away is his quick witted brother Claudius. While Hamlet was a great King and a great leader, he was not always around to look after Gertrude like Claudius was, and this led to the downfall of one relationship and the rise of another. After the murder of King Hamlet, Gertrude was a mess, and guess who was there for her... that's right, Claudius. By being around for Gertrude when Hamlet was away, he was able to plant the seed of his intended relationship. With Hamlet out of the picture Claudius was able to make his relationship with Gertrude finally blossom, the combination of the old friendship with a shoulder to lean on added to Claudius' wit and charm and without Gertrude's son around to mess anything up, Claudius seemed like the perfect match to the widowed queen. However, Prince Hamlet (with the help of his father's ghost) is able to see through Claudius' act and knows he was after the throne all along, that combined with the new King's attributes that are almost completely opposite of the fallen King, he is loud, arrogant, and very long winded and will not back down from a battle of wits but will never himself raise his sword.
To Hamlet junior, King Hamlet was a valiant, honorable warrior, and “so excellent a king” (I, 2, 143). The king is Hamlet’s ultimate role model, and he sees himself as vastly inferior to his father. As others have pointed out, King Hamlet was more of a stern, professional man than a family man. Hamlet always admired his father for these qualities, and despised his uncle Claudius for being so frivolous and unprofessional. Claudius is a lustful, manipulative, power-hungry man. The true nature of his relationship with Gertrude, as Callie and Ariel wondered, is ambiguous. Their love for each other seems sincere to me, but the marriage was also a strategic move on Claudius’s part as to commandeer the throne. I think that Gertrude was drawn to Claudius much more than King Hamlet because of his jovial nature and way with words. They are both emotional and shallow people, and seem to go well together. Hamlet condemns his mother’s incestuous, despicable actions, and doesn’t understand her desires and motivations. Gertrude is dependent on her husband and strongly yearns for affection and attention, readily provided by Claudius, not the deceased King. I think that Gertrude is a pretty superficial, needy woman, so she fits better with Claudius (don’t worry, I don’t extend that characteristic to all women like Hamlet does).
Claudius is no doubt the antagonist of “Hamlet,” but even as a villain he is more than human. He is a smart man with a capable tongue. Though he is motivated by greed, in Act III he is seen as feeling enormous guilt for his actions when he prays in the chapel. "O, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven" (Act III, Scene 3, Line 40). However, this does not stop him from committing future crimes. His powers as a politician are formidable, as exemplified by when he turns Laertes to his side. These abilities all lend themselves well to charming Gertrude as well. It is certain that marrying Gertrude was a good move politically, but I can’t decide if I think Claudius actually loves her.
Before we even hear a word from King Hamlet we learn of his stature: all that encounter him recognize him from his armor. Truly a warrior king, he garnered respect from all of his subordinates. From the way he presents his murder I feel a very spiteful and vengeful tone coming from him. However, he does ask of Hamlet to spare Gertrude, showing that he cares for her. That being said, the extent to which he showed her his love while living is questionable. As we do not catch a glimpse of the late king while he was still breathing, it is hard to pin down how he treated everyone, but I feel as if he did not display much affection for either Gertrude or his son, garnering respect from the latter purely through reverence and admiration, as supported by his warring nature. King Hamlet seems to be a more impersonal ruler, looking to his throne rather than his family.
First off I just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading Trevor's comment, it was rather comical. I also liked Shruti's assessment of the two men. I think a lot of other people caught on to her thinking as well but it makes complete sense that the amount of time you spend with someone can construe the way you think of that person(in this case the late King Hamlet).
King Hamlet seemed to take his role super seriously. As for Claudius he seems to take being King in a more relaxed sense. Claudius enjoys drinking and the festivities. It's probably that relaxed ora you get from Claudius...maybe its not him being relaxed whereas it is more he takes his role a little less seriously than King Hamlet...either way I think Gertrude easily falls for Claudius because he is less uptight than the late hamlet. She is able to enjoy the perks of being royal with Claudius, perks that she may not have experienced with King Hamlet.
King Hamlet was just this wise role-model, he is this great guy because we dont get to see his flaws and Claudius is this mischievous clever man.
Although it is still unclear whether the Ghost is really the spirit of the deceased King Hamlet, for now it can be considered that the Ghost is really the past King Hamlet. If this is the case, it is obvious that King Hamlet loved Gertrude, his wife, as Hamlet also states that he was “so loving to my mother” (I.2.140) and the Ghost tells that Hamlet must not blame Gertrude for the matter. It also seems that King Hamlet is more of a warrior king as depicted in his battle and victory against King Fortinbras, another warrior. It may also be that King Hamlet went to battle often as Horatio and the others recognize the Ghost as King Hamlet by his suit of armor. King Hamlet also seeks revenge for his death as he mentions that he never had a chance to make up for his sins and that everything was taken from him at once. However, Gertrude left him within 2 months, so his character is slightly questionable, perhaps due to being away from his family too often. Hamlet though, obviously respects and admires his dead father, comparing him to Claudius as Hyperion the Sun god to a satyr. This may be because Hamlet views his father as a great and brave warrior, whereas he himself is weak in comparison. The Ghost’s speech also presents King Hamlet as a less intelligent person when compared to Hamlet or Claudius.Claudius, on the other hand, is a politician who manipulates words and uses them to control others. Sly and devious, Claudius is the clever villain archetype that appears good to others under a cloak of deceit. Claudius is obviously very ambitious, as, for now, it seems that Claudius killed his brother in order to gain the seat of power as well as Gertrude. Although his love for Gertrude seems true, his selfish ambition seems to be greater than his love for Gertrude as he rarely consults Gertrude on anything and prefers to control things on his own. Gertrude seems to be very dependent as she swiftly chooses to marry Claudius soon after her previous husband’s death. Although that may have been because King Hamlet never spent much time with her and because of Claudius’ cunning weaving of words, Gertrude seems to be a frail person in general. She almost never has a say in anything and prefers to shy away from any danger to herself. It is also questionable if Gertrude married Claudius in order to keep her high position and Gertrude’s character for now seems to be very dependent and frail, as Hamlet mentioned.
I just have to say that Trevor is my new favorite person of all time. His post seriously made my night.
“So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr. So loving to my mother that he might not beteem the winds of heaven visit her face too roughly” (I, Scene 2, 139). King Hamlet was an almighty, righteous ruler who only fulfilled his role as the King of Denmark. Hamlet idolizes his father like no other, in which he also disregards his uncle who is trying to take his place. His father can be seen as superior to his uncle as a god is to a beast, in Hamlet’s perspective. In the environment that young Hamlet was raised in, it makes sense that he would look at his father with such high prestige and respect. The king was a pure warrior with strong ambitions to protect his people and land, without anything getting in the way, including his wife.
From Hamlet’s perspective, his father treated his mother with great care and loved her so dearly, but it was probably more of a formal, rather stiff relationship between a general king and queen. Gertrude felt like she wasn’t being loved and given enough attention, so she was already so vulnerable to the sweet talks from Claudius. He’s not afraid to provide her with touchy and witty compliments, and is always there for her. He’s practically physically next to her all the time, drinking and celebrating. He also seems very carefree, and enjoys festivals, which Gertrude isn’t used to, making her more attracted to him.
(WARNING: This response was written while the writer had a cold, and was on Dayquil, and was very very sleepy. Ironically this made the post longer, because the inner editor disappears when Lindsay is sick.)
King Hamlet was a man of honor, strength, and charisma – “a goodly king”. Horatio is the one who identifies King Hamlet as such when he talks to young Hamlet. Lacking the costuming and director’s flair, the text of Hamlet provides evidence of King Hamlet’s person in conversation, soliloquy, and speech by the ghost of King Hamlet himself. Even in death King Hamlet desires to avenge “a murder most foul”, which, in this case, is his own (I, V, 35). This is the old form of honor. In life, he fights a one on one combat battle for the destiny of his country with King Fortinbras. This honor is also portrayed in his indignity at his wife’s remarrying. Gertrude marries a man that King Hamlet views to be weak: he claims to have better “natural gifts” than Claudius (I, V, 57). In young Hamlet’s eyes, King Hamlet was a god of the sun and caused Gertrude to cling to him. This great King has a stunning image – even in death his armor inspires awe in Bernard, Horation, and Marcellus.
Claudius, on the other hand, is an excellent statesman. Rather than relying on physical strength and presence, he works with words, which is completely effective with everyone except Hamlet. Claudius pays attention to all aspects of politics in his introductory speech to the court in Act I, Scene II. He establishes his legitimacy, acknowledges his brother’s death, and provides a course of action for the country – after firmly establishing the context of his decision. The ghost of King Hamlet claims that Claudius “seduce[s]” Gertrude, an act that in itself would require the cunning and intelligence that Claudius also demonstrates in his speech to the court (I, V, 51). Gertrude may be attracted by the words of Claudius as conversation, stereotypically, would be something Gertrude lacked in her relationship with King Hamlet.
The transition between the two courts is between traditional and celebratory, as Austin identifies in his post. Extended celebration is a very good political move, but does leave the question open as to the effectiveness of Claudius’ reign. I primarily discussed King Hamlet, the… king, but I particularly enjoyed Shruti’s reference to King Hamlet as “aloof”. Rather than weeping or behaving sentimentally, as many fathers would (should?), when he views his son in death, he instead requires only justice from Hamlet, a very formal request.
King Hamlet
Prince Hamlet calls his father “Hyperion” (I, 2), a majestic figure to be feared and admired, but perhaps not to be tenderly loved. The impression I got from Prince Hamlet and Horatio’s description of the late King is that he is a brave, righteous, commanding ruler, whose chief fault (to Gertrude) might be his lack of warmth because of this martial-like personality. To resolve the conflict with Norway, he stood up to Fortinbras for a duet, rather than sitting down for an negotiation like Claudius might have; even in death he is warrior-like, clad in armor, rather than in a kingly robe; when his ghost speaks to Hamlet, it speaks only of the chief matter—the murder and the need for revenge—and omits the moving exchange of the sort one might expect from a dead father who gets one more chance to speak to his beloved son; the ghost’s words are not as well-crafted as Claudius’s or Hamlet’s, and show the raw anger and jealousy of a soldier rather than the charisma of an aristocrat King (Claudius) or the sensitivity of an introspective scholar (Hamlet). Hamlet admires his father because he is a son, one who needs his kind of strong, powerful figure to look up to. Gertrude, on the other hand, is a wife, who might appreciate words of passion and gestures of understanding rather than those of command and parental guidance. King Hamlet’s authoritative, but not necessarily empathic, personality might be the reason that Hamlet so admires his father but Gertrude does not her husband.
Gertrude and Claudius
As we have learned from analyzing Claudius’s first monologue, Claudius is a shrewd politician, a quite charismatic person at the surface. His outward personality might be one thing that Gertrude finds attractive. But, despite his duplicity towards King Hamlet, which seems to color Hamlet’s entire impression of him, Claudius has positive qualities within him as well. Claudius’s love for Gertrude is genuine. For example, in his remorseful soliloquy, Claudius regards the queen as a prize he had murdered for, not just an attachment to the power he had won. The reason he gives to Laertes for not pursuing the murder of Polonius, that Gertrude’s life is too closely linked to Hamlet’s, seems genuine as well. In the final scene, just after Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine, Laertes asks Claudius if he should strike Hamlet, Claudius says “I do not think’t”(V, 2); this surprising reply suggests that Claudius does not really want to kill Hamlet, but he does so only to prevent Gertrude from finding out the truth. Claudius is not an insensitive murderer—his murdering of King Hamlet might even be driven by his love for Gertrude—for he struggles with his conscience. Claudius’s internal struggle is expressed not only in his soliloquy, but also in ironic utterances like “O my dear Gertrude, this, like to a murdering-piece, in many places gives me superfluous death” (IV, 5). Claudius also shows his humane side in the scene with the mad Ophelia; he does not ridicule her or treat her with annoyance, but inquires with pity: “How do you, pretty lady?” and “How long hath she been thus?” (IV, 5). To my interpretation, Hamlet’s pensive monologue in Act I, scene 4 (“So, oft it chances in particular men/That for some vicious mole of nature in them… Doth all the noble substance of a doubt/To his own scandal.”) describes Claudius well. Though the wickedness and duplicity with which he killed his brother is not all that he has, all his virtues are polluted because of this “stamp of one defect” (I, 4), this wretched act of passion and impulse.
King Hamlet was a warrior king that brought triumph and victory in the battlefield. He defeated Fortinbras and secured much land and money for Denmark. Hamlet adores his father. He compares his father to his uncle, proclaiming that they are as different as "Hyperion to a satyr". He then compares his uncle and himself to his father to "I to Hercules". Hamlet believes that nobody can match the greatness that is his father. The king also believes in justice and revenge. He wants his murder revenged and his wife to suffer for her incestuous actions by keeping her alive while killing of her new husband.
Claudius is the ideal politician. His gilded tongue allows him to manipulate people so he can get what he wants. He knows exactly what to say to get another person to obey him (except Hamlet). Claudius used his words to get Gertrude to fall in love with him so that he would have a more direct connection to the throne. The new king is just another man hungering for power and authority. Another reason is since the elder Hamlet was out on wars all the time, Gertrude had no time to spend with her husband. Claudius, who loves to drink and party, is home all the time, allowing Gertrude to be by his side.
Hamlet describes King Hamlet as "so loving to my mother", "so excellent a king", and a "noble father" (11, 14). Clearly, Hamlet felt his father was a good man in every aspect. However, this is all through his own eyes. His Mother felt differently about King Hamlet. She was swayed by Claudius. I believe his "witchcraft of wits" pulled her in and a a spark was formed, where a spark was no longer there between Gertrude and King Hamlet. A relationship among a father and son is entirely different than one between a husband and wife. While Hamlet thought his father great, Gertrude was lacking something within her relationship with King Hamlet which allowed Claudius to reel her in. As to what Emelia said about Claudius being a "master of words" and "knows exactly what to say to gain trust", I agree. He has a persuasive character and I believe he used this to win Gertrude over.
Since I can't sum up the reason behind Gertrude favoring Claudius as well as Callie did, I'll just say I agree with her. I won't delve into whether or not I believe Claudius's love for the Queen is genuine, either, so I'll simply focus on Hamlet and his relationship with his father.
I very much believe in the concept that while a man may be a hero in life, in death he will have risen to the status of a god, so to speak. Hamlet has a very idealized image of his father - however, it seems he only knew of his father the King, the warrior, rather than his father the flawed, imperfect human being. And Hamlet the King was who this young Hamlet looked up to as a role model. There was no reason for the prince to know of, much less take into account, his father's shortcomings as a husband, for surely they were inconsequential in his mind.
He has already set his father so high up on the pedestal that upon his father's death, his father has become even more someone to be worshiped and honored. His mother's marriage, so soon after her husband's death, and to his brother no less, was an act of betrayal in Hamlet's eyes, an insult to the King's memory. Already struck by his father's passing, his mother's "incestuous" act of infidelity only further isolates Hamlet, who seems to take his mother's actions very personally, as if she has turned her back on him, as well. Full of resentment and still nursing his wounds, he embraces the appearance of his father and it comes as no surprise when he readily agrees to the words of his father, which were so similar to his own.
I'm not sure if this entirely makes sense, as I'm still frazzled after saving my fish from the kitchen sink drain.
Though Hamlet rarely saw his father, he practically worships him—going as far as using the comparison of Hercules. To him, the King is a never-changing figure; a role model. The King was always busy with doing whatever kings do, so, naturally, he wouldn’t have much time to be a husband or father figure. In fact, when referring to the Queen, King Hamlet states: "From me, whose love was of that dignity,” (Act I, Scene 5) This shows that their marriage was based on duty, loyalty, etc. Prince Hamlet says that his father had always been good to his mother, but just being “good” to your spouse isn’t always enough—especially if someone as eloquent as Claudius is eyeing your woman! So Gertrude isn’t all at fault—who can blame her for falling in love with someone who actually pays her attention?
Based on the statement that Claudius and King Hamlet are exact opposites, it can be inferred that King Hamlet was all about rules, honor, loyalty, duty: all that good stuff. Claudius loves to party, has a way with words, and is much more relaxed in his outer-appearance than his brother, whose ghost is clad in full armor. These characteristics are what drew Gertrude to Claudius. As for the subject of why she didn’t adore her late husband as Hamlet did: Gertrude actually LIVED with the King—therefore, she could see/knew his faults. Hamlet didn’t live with his parents, so he never had the opportunity to get to know his father, and was thus left with the image of his father being “perfect”. How convenient.
It’s clear that Hamlet abhors King Claudius. He says that he is “no more like my father than I to Hercules.” Hamlet is, of course, alluding to the strong, courageous hero of Greek mythology, making the point that as he himself cannot be compared to an extraordinary hero, so Claudius cannot be compared to his father. Hamlet always speaks highly of his father, as do Horatio and Marcellus. Horatio even came for King Hamlet’s funeral. This leads us to believe that King Hamlet was a much greater man than King Claudius.
An interesting tidbit concerning King Claudius is found in Act I, Scene IV when Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus hear noise. Horatio asks Hamlet what this noise is, and Hamlet responds, “The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse, keeps wassail, and the swagg’ring upspring reels; and, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, the kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out the triumph of his pledge.” Hamlet goes on to say that it is a custom, but that he would respect someone more who would choose not to observe it because it gives Denmark a bad reputation. I don’t think we know this for certain, but I get the feeling that King Hamlet did not observe such a custom. I think that Claudius’ penchant for partying may have contributed to Gertrude’s attraction to him. Perhaps King Hamlet’s wise and scrupulous ways were not as enticing as his brother’s amusing demeanor. Maybe Gertrude wanted a little more fun and adventure in her life.
I also think that Claudius is by no means dumb. He is actually quite shrewd. We see this by the murder of his brother, the marriage to his sister-in-law, and his conversations with Hamlet.
After reading my fellow classmates’ posts, there seems to be a consensus that King Hamlet was not a family man. I don’t know how Hamlet would have such a lofty view of his father if he wasn’t at all a family man. I think he could have very well cared for his family and his country at the same time. It seems that King Hamlet was an all-around “good man.” We all know that no one is perfect, so I don’t think it’s necessary to harp on any potential weakness King Hamlet may or may not have possessed. It’s clear from Claudius and Gertrude’s hasty marriage and “unrighteous tears” that a wrong has been committed, and it is important that Hamlet must set things right.
-King Hamlet:
A strong,sturdy king that is a warrior first. This is evident by the full body armor garb he dons as an apparition. A man blessed with great physical gifts, but one that hasn't harnessed much emotional prowess. He doesn't possess the loquacity or rhetoric that both his son and his brother have mastered. To me King Hamlet is a sympathetic figure as he fulfills his duties as a king, but it isn't enough. He exudes gravitas and lacks the lively spirit of his brother.
Claudius-
The current king is a cunning politician who is the opposite of King Hamlet. Claudius gains and maintains power not with superior brawn, but with exceptional adeptness at manipulating peoples emotions and actions. He cares not for the state he controls or maybe even Gertrude. His main concern is himself. No grand ideas come from him, he is too preoccupied with his station in the court.
Gertrude-
She is a puzzling chracter as many questions are left for interpretation. What her true feelings may be some things can be identified. Hamlet's cry regading women as frail might only expose his tormented state, but also call to question the moral frailty of Gertrude. She finds Claudious attractive, because she grew tired of King Hamlet's ways and Claudious is everything the late king isn't. She might have been seduced, but it takes two to tango and she certainly wasn't going to put up much resistance.
Without a doubt, Disney stole the whole Lion King idea from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. They share the same sort of revenge plot. Scar is the evil, devious uncle who Simba (Hamlet) never really liked and guess what? It turns out he killed his father. Now, Simlet or Hamba, whichever you prefer, must regain the throne and avenge his father. Notice any similarities? Oh, also, Musfasa was an awesome king who has previous defeated hyena invaders (of presumably Norwegian descent). If this wasn’t enough, both plots share the dead father talking to son aspect. I would definitely say Musfasa encourage his son a bit more than King Hamlet, but the only real difference is that the ghost in the Lion King was in the sky instead of walking around—it really had the same effect though. At this point, Mr. Duncan, you may be thinking what does this have to do with character analysis of the Hamlets and Claudius, and when am I going to get to the point? Well, here I am.
I think that analysis of Scar lends insight to an understanding of Claudius. Both were covetous brothers who wanted what their brothers had. Claudius has no other reason to try to steal the throne. ---Side note: If Hamlet was about thirty, which I assume is old-ish back then, why didn’t he get the throne after King Hamlet died?--- This same envious attitude explains why Claudius wanted Gertrude. It could have and may have well as been any woman that was simply married to the more successful brother. I think the fact that Claudius is a womanizer is simply thrown in there to explain why Gertrude went for him so easily. If Claudius wasn’t totally down with the ladies and Gertrude didn’t have a husband that pretty much neglected her for state affairs, she probably wouldn’t have picked another husband so quickly. By killing his brother, Claudius felt like he was stepping out of his brother’s shadow into the spotlight. He craved the attention and did whatever it took to get it. His massive partying attitude is merely an extension of this attention craving personality. The point at which Claudius and Scar diverge is found by understanding that Claudius, although a pretty devious guy, was actually a decent king—although neither of them compare in the slightest to Musfasa and King Hamlet. Their greatness sets off the new kings and makes the regime change seem that much more evil and the revenge against them justified. At this point, I find the Lion King so incredibly similar to Hamlet, that I wouldn’t be surprised if Hamlet met a couple best buds named Timonathus and Pumbant.
Basically, my post seems utterly repetitive and useless because of Callie :'( A tearful frowny.
It is obvious that Hamlet holds high regards for his father. The late King was a noble man who was a great warrior, able to win battles and bring Denmark glory. His father, to Hamlet, is "[s]o excellent a king; that was, to this, / Hyperion to a satyr." Hamlet compares his father to an important deity whose translation of its name is Sun High-one while King Claudius is compared to a satyr, which is apparently (after looking it up on wikipedia and looking at the disturbing, awkward images of the vase-paintings) a man with strong sexual desire, often portrayed as men with erections. Anyway, it goes to show that Hamlet really does respect his father and detest his uncle.
While his father was honorable, he was probably the sort of man who was too focused on his work as a King, leaving little time for for his dear Gherkintrude. Where there is no attention, there is no true love. Now, Claudius, being the satyr, probably was a bit on the... fun... side, and probably was able to... please... Queen Gherkintrude much more than King Hamlet would (who knows, maybe Hamlet was being literal when he said that Claudius was a satyr -- it would make since when the Ghost says that their relationship was incestuous... so maybe...?). ANYWAY... what I'm trying to say is that King Claudius was a far more fun, loving individual than King Hamlet. He was also a great sophist, being able to convince practically anybody anything he wanted, including the murder of his brother. This combination of being a satyr (;)), a fun individual, and a sophist made him more appealing to Queen Gertrude.
Sigh. Inappropriate comments due to weariness of the college process. But! If you look at the text, it kind of makes sense, you know.
ALSO! I REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT (of Claudius?) IS THE GUY FROM STAR TREK ENTERPRISE! Captain Jean-Luc Picard portrayed by PATRICK STEWART. That was an exciting day when I saw the blog post and saw his picture. :D
I truly hope that a lot pass means I can write this blog tomorrow, or later today more accurately. I am just to the point of passing out. Oh my.
a lot pass? Excuse me, a LATE pass.
I think that the late King of Denmark may have been a good leader and a good soldier, but I don't think he was necessarily the best father or husband.I believe Hamlet idolized his father so much because he was a good leader and Hamlet knew that it was to be his position one day. He felt obligated to be at least a portion of the King his father was and in doing so set his father up on a golden pedestal. In the beginning of the play, when Hamlet interacts with his father's spirit, the specter is very aloof and distant. I find that very odd as the subject matter was his murder at the hands of his brother and the betrayal of his "seeming virtuous Queen", yet the spirit wasn't agitated in the slightest. The ghost wasn't asking Hamlet to seek revenge on his brother and uncle prospectively because of Hamlet's love for his father, but because it was the "honorable" thing to do. Showing once again that the late King of Denmark was just that; a King, even in death.
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