Claudius the Villain in HamletThis essay will delineate in detail the character of King Claudius in Shakespeare's Hamlet, show his place in the drama, and interpret his character -- with help literary critics. Philip Burton in "Hamlet" discusses Claudius' sudden ascension to the Danish throne upon the death of King Hamlet I: The fact that Claudius became king is not really surprising. It is not until late in the play that Hamlet complains that his uncle has "interposed himself between the election and my hopes." The country was in a state of nervousness expecting an invasion by young Fortinbras, leading a band of lawless adventurers, to avenge his father's death at the hands of King Hamlet. A strong new king was immediately needed; Claudius' election, especially in Hamlet's absence, was inevitable. What's more, it was immediately justified, because Claudius managed to dispel the threat of invasion by appealing to the king of Norway to rein in his nephew Fortinbras; the ambitious young soldier was all the more willing to call off the planned invasion as the object of his vengeance, Hamlet's father, was now dead, and in exchange he received free passage through Denmark to fight against Poland (Burton). The drama opens after Hamlet has just returned from Wittenberg, England, where he has been a student. What brought him home was the news of his father's death and his uncle's accession to the Danish throne. Hamlet also learned the disturbing news of the new king's "hasty marriage" to Hamlet I's wife, less than two months after the funeral. It would initially seem that it is Gertrude, rather than Claudius, who is responsible for the protagonist's “violent emotions” (Smith 80); so...... middle of paper ......et.htmColeridge, Samuel Taylor. Lectures and notes on Shakspere and other English poets. London: George Bell and Sons, 1904. p. 342-368. http://ds.dial.pipex.com/thomas_larque/ham1-col.htmFaucit, Helena (Lady Martin). On certain female characters in Shakespeare. 6th ed. London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1899. Jorgensen, Paul A. “Hamlet.” William Shakespeare: The Tragedies. Boston: Twayne Publ., 1985. N. pag. http://www.freehomepages.com/hamlet/other/jorg-hamlet.html Mack, Maynard. "Hamlet's World." Yale Review. flight. 41 (1952) p. 502-23. Rep. in Readings on Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Hamlet, prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line number.