Preview

Hamlet - Claudius vs. Lady Macbeth

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1381 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hamlet - Claudius vs. Lady Macbeth
Claudius vs. Lady Macbeth

King Claudius of Hamlet and Lady Macbeth of Macbeth exhibit three similar qualities, dishonesty, evilness, and deceitfulness throughout the play; although sometimes they demonstrate these qualities in different ways, these qualities greatly affect the other characters in the plays .

King Claudius and Lady Macbeth are similar in that they both let their crave of power and desire for the crown drive them to deceitfulness, corruption, and even murder, to obtain it. King Claudius and Lady Macbeth are so greedy for wealth and power that they will let nothing get in their way, even if it means deceiving the ones they love. King Claudius was in love with his brother¹s wife and desired his position as king. In order to obtain these things he went behind Gertrude, his lover¹s, back and murdered her husband. Shortly after, he married her and took the crown. Not only was this extremely deceitful to Gertrude, but it hurt Hamlet, his nephew, extremely. Lady Macbeth was indeed as power hungry as Claudius, and she too plotted a murder in order for her husband to obtain the crown. In doing this she was extremely deceitful of her lover also. She employed many conniving tricks in order to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan, such as in scene in Act I, scene seven when she says, ³From this time such I account thy love.² Here she is basically saying that Macbeth may prove his undying love for her by killing the king, thus causing him to feel that he is obligated to murder King Duncan. King Claudius and Lady Macbeth are also very good at disguising their deceit. In Hamlet, only Hamlet himself is aware of the true nature of Claudius. All others, including his Wife and subjects, think he is a wonderful and innocent King. Lady Macbeth is the same in that she puts up a wonderful facade for both the public and her husband. Although she is planning a murder Lady Macbeth manages to still act as a smiling, gracious hostess. Lady Macbeth's
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Claudius and Other Characters of Hamlet
    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Claudius and Other Characters of Hamlet

    Now wears his crown” (1.5.46-47). Claudius’s brother was a great warrior that probably ruled with ideas of justice and moral balance but Claudius is a corrupt politician, he rules with manipulation and does not even feel guilt for catalyzing the fall from grace of so many characters. He schemes and manipulates other characters to get what he desires. When Claudius was certain that Hamlet knew of his lie about his brothers death he planned a match between Laertes and Hamlet in which Hamlet was not suppose to come out as the victor. Claudius will stop at nothing to maintain his power if he has he heart to murder his own brother, he will have the heart to murder anyone that blocks him from his goal. It is his own scheming that leads to his death, if power is gained by lies and manipulation more lies and manipulation must take place to maintain it and that life can only be held a secret for so long. The constant deaths, spying and confusion led many to become mad. His lack of guilt can be seen when he openly shows his affection for his wife in front of Hamlet and does it in a very obnoxious way. This affection for his wife is questionable because of his need for power. It is not certain whether or not Claudius actually has sincere feelings towards Gertrude or whether she is just another character playing a part in his lie, something that just came along with what he truly wanted, the crown. However even though his motives for marrying the queen are questionable, if he does not truly love Gertrude he covers it up well, showing once again his good use of manipulation. He openly shows affection and even declares his love in words, “The…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Characters in Hamlet and Claudius
    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Characters in Hamlet and Claudius

    1. Is Hamlet surprised when the Ghost asks him to revenge his father's murder? Is he surprised when he learns who the murderer is?…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    How male/female relationships are portrayed in Macbeth and poems
    • 2528 Words
    • 11 Pages

    How male/female relationships are portrayed in Macbeth and poems

    Shakespeare’s characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are initially united by their mutual ambition for power and their relationship is strong. However, over time, they become haunted by the brutal deeds that they have carried out to achieve their aims. They are driven apart by their inner feelings, secrets and guilt.…

    • 2528 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Comparing Claudius 'And Lady Catherine De Bourgh's'
    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Comparing Claudius 'And Lady Catherine De Bourgh's'

    Claudius & Lady Catherine De Bourgh have some obvious differences such as their gender and marital status. One is a male, and married, the other is a widowed female. But some other differences that really make them different from each other is how they use their power and how they accept failure. In the play Hamlet, Claudius is viewed by readers to be manipulative and sneaky. He uses his power through his actions. For example, in the play, Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet has murdered his father. The only motive Claudius has for telling this information is so Laertes will seek revenge on Hamlet. Where as in contrast, Lady Catherine De Bourgh is considered to be a blunt and straight…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Is Lady Macbeth Evil
    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Is Lady Macbeth Evil

    Lady Macbeth is greedy and ambitious. When Macbeth is considering not to go through with Duncan's murder Lady Macbeth says, “...Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire?” (1.7.42-44). Lady Macbeth is making Macbeth feel guilty and like a coward, because he is considering not to go through with the murder. She is going make Macbeth kill the king, because she…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Is Hamlet Right Or Wrong Analysis
    • 719 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Is Hamlet Right Or Wrong Analysis

    As C.G Jung once said, “The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.” In Willam Shakespeare's Hamlet, the protagonist Hamlet and antagonist Claudius struggle with basic of notions of right and wrong bringing their morality into question. The murder of an innocent, the abuse of the women closest to them and, the quest to murder one another are simply the indications of how both characters are morally weak.…

    • 719 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparison of Hamlet and Claudius
    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Comparison of Hamlet and Claudius

    king of Denmark and he will do anything to stay that way. His wife Gertrude…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    What Is Free Will In Macbeth
    • 1209 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What Is Free Will In Macbeth

    To begin with, Macbeth is greatly influenced by Lady Macbeth. She “is depicted by Shakespeare as an equal of Macbeth in the realm of ambition and ruthlessness; without her, in fact, Macbeth's courage may never have reached the ‘sticking-place’” (Moss & Wilson 7). She convinces him to commit the murder of King Duncan, as well as convinces him that murder is the only way to achieve their ambition. Rather than listening to his own conscience, which tells him to “...proceed no further in this business” (Shakespeare I.VII.34), Macbeth allows his wife to manipulate and convince him by accusing him of not being a man and expresses that she would “...dashed the brains out...”…

    • 1209 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Conflict in Macbeth
    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Conflict in Macbeth

    The relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth may seem like a health one at the beginning, but we quickly learned that there is a conflict between the two. Macbeth was not sure about murdering Duncan, but Lady Macbeth convinced him to murder him by saying “was the hope drunk wherein you dress’d yourself? Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale at what it did so freely? From this time such I account thy love. Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou in desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem, letting “I dare not “wait upon “I would,” like the poor cat in the adage” (1, 7, 38- 48) She tries to convince him by calling him a coward and unmanly. Macbeth is convinced enough to murder Duncan which then caused more death and eventually his own down fall.…

    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth
    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Macbeth

    Lady Macbeth and Macbeth create their own tragedy by inciting ambition, and power-hungry obsession that fatalistically corrupts their minds. In the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth begins the downward spiral with her ambition, pushing Macbeth into wanting to become King. Macbeth then becomes obsessed with becoming King and gaining and maintaining power. These situations lead to both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s corruption, and ultimately, their deaths. In the characters of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, Shakespeare demonstrates that unrestrained ambition and the dogged pursuit of power have severe consequences.…

    • 912 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Hamlet Character Analysis
    • 1996 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Hamlet Character Analysis

    In Hamlet, many think of Hamlet as being the main or only tragically flawed character within the play. However, in actuality, the play contains many other characters that possess varying severities of imperfection, some of which put the shortcomings of Hamlet, the title character of Hamlet, to shame. Despite the tragically flawed nature of Hamlet’s character, other characters in the play are clearly more flawed in comparison to Hamlet. As a result of this character’s imperfection, many of the characters within the play Hamlet are considered tragic; however, those in which this trait is predominant are Claudius, Laertes and Gertrude.…

    • 1996 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lady Macbeth And Macbeth Are Alike And

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Page

    Lady Macbeth And Macbeth Are Alike And

    Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are alike and different after Duncan’s death in many ways. Macbeth has no feeling and it is like he is very numb when before his actions he was weak and frail. Lady Macbeth was very ambitious and got what she wanted when she wanted it no matter what. After the death she tried everything she could to get rid of the guilt of killing Duncan. She even tried blaming the servants. They are alike because after the death of King Duncan they both ran from what they had done. They are also, different because unlike Lady Macbeth, Macbeth was scared of the consequences. Lady Macbeth was not scared she felt guilty and she also did not want to be like her husband weak and scared.…

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Shakespeare Present Gertrude's Character In Hamlet
    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Shakespeare Present Gertrude's Character In Hamlet

    Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s character in relation to Claudius. First example is Hamlet puts on a play to see if Claudius would break down and confess that he killed King Hamlet. “That guilty creatures sitting at a play. Have by the very cunning of the scene, been struck so to the soul that presently. They have proclaimed their malefactions.” (Shakespeare, 2:2, lines 567-570). Hamlet invited players to come to the castle and perform a play for the king and queen. The play is going to reenact the night Claudius killed King Hamlet. Second example is Hamlet seeks revenge on Claudius. “Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell.” (Shakespeare, 2:2, line 562). When Hamlet saw the ghost of his dad in act 1, his dad said he needs to seek revenge on Claudius. Final example is Claudius…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth: How Frequent Incitement Causes Violent and Devastating Consequences
    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Macbeth: How Frequent Incitement Causes Violent and Devastating Consequences

    Lady Macbeth is a power thirsty woman who can do anything in order to attain power; nothing can come between her vicious intentions. Lady Macbeth is not supportive of Macbeth. She uses manipulation and control to influence Macbeth. In Act 1, Scene 7, “We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honoured me of late, and I have bough Golden opinions from all sort of people...” At this point Macbeth has totally changed his mind and decides that he will not commit regicide. When Lady Macbeth finds this out, she gets frustrated and condemns Macbeth for being a coward.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How are characters presented as disturbed in Macbeth, Laboratory and My Last Duchess?
    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How are characters presented as disturbed in Macbeth, Laboratory and My Last Duchess?

    Macbeth in the beginning of the play is a noble, humble and honourable person who, without question would sacrifice his life for the liberty of his King, Duncan. As the play progresses he attitude towards life in general changes completely, mainly due to the pressure that Lady Macbeth inflicts on him. However, Lady Macbeth has quite a surprising personality as she is not the stereotypical Elizabethan woman. Lady Macbeth is expected to be fragile, meek, innocent and comforting but in this unusual circumstance Lady Macbeth would very much rather “dashed the brains out” of an infant child. This is plain evidence to suggest that Lady Macbeth is of no stable condition. In addition to this surprising fact Lady Macbeth is cunning and bloodthirsty. She demands Macbeth in Act one, Scene Five to “look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t”. It is very common for a man to demand a female to pursue tasks but for a woman to demand a man, especially of something like sacrilege, is very unusual. This could mean two things, Macbeth is weak and is unable to depict his own decisions or/and that Macbeth is mentally deteriorating. Macbeth reason with Lady Macbeths orders in his soliloquy in Act one, Scene seven and from the things he…

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics