Claudius as the new Politician

As we discussed when we first started analyzing Hamlet, there is a problem of power in the sense that King Hamlet died and the throne of Denmark should have been taken by Prince Hamlet, but instead his uncle Claudius took the throne for himself after marrying Queen Gertrude in what seemed to be an elaborated plan.

Now, as older societies were very respectful of their traditions, one would have thought they would see Claudius claim of the throne as an illegitimate one, but here’s when Claudius great mind first come to stage. Claudius, unlike old King Hamlet, is a true politician, a diplomat. He’s no soldier. And as the good politician he is, he is able to make his way out of uncomfortable situations through words.

Claudius is the representative of a new order, one that makes use of words, diplomacy or plots to achieve its goals. King Hamlet and Hamlet himself represent an old order in which only actions matter. One of Claudius’ first move as King is to send ambassadors to Norway to sort out the Fortimbras’ situation, whereas King Hamlet would have sent his army or he would have fought Fortimbras himself, as he did with King Fortimbras. Here we can see the paradigm shift, using words instead of arms.

Examples of Claudius’ use of words are plenty, like the speech he gives to Hamlet when trying to get him out of his mourning (I.ii.68). Even in the final moments when he tries to kill Hamlet, he tries to make it look like an accident so that no one can link him with Hamlet’s death. He is aware of the impact of Hamlet’s death can have in Denmark, thus showing again glimpses of his politician nature. His first attempt is through Guildenstern and Rosencrantz and the letters he prepared to arrange Hamlet’s death, but Hamlet discovers such plot and changes the letters having Guildenstern and Rosencrantz killed. He then returns to Denmark just after Laertes has returned from France. Once again, Claudius mind is set to work as he encourages Laertes to take action against Hamlet to avenge the murder of his father (IV.v.98).

Whether the way in which he got to the throne is questionable, we cannot argue his qualities as a politician and his ability to use words at his favour.

References: 

http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/150/the-manipulative-nature-of-claudius-in-shakespeares-hamlet