How Does Hamlet Present Claudius

Hamlet’s linguistic signs give the physical painting of King Hamlet and Claudius a life-like presence. Hamlet’s description of the painting is not a literal record of what he sees, but a verbal account of what he perceives to be true: “The counterfeit presentment of two brothers” (III, iv, 55). Hamlet believes that Claudius’ image is the counterfeit of King Hamlet’s. He describes his father as being full of “grace” (III, iv, 56) and “command” (III, iv, 58), a man of whom “every god did seem to set his seal” (III, iv, 62). Thus, Hamlet’s description lends the image of King Hamlet the presence of something divine, and even more the presence of a god.
Hamlet glorifies his father whose entity continues to persist in his mind. In contrast, Hamlet’s