Hamlet The Populist Politician Analysis

Any story as old and well known as Hamlet is bound to receive criticism and be interpreted in many different ways. I believe that while the story focuses on Hamlet avenging his father, the pressures and troubles that King Claudius faces are not properly displayed to the audience. Claudius is described to the audience as a tyrant who kills his brother for power, an evil man, and I believe that while Claudius is evil, he has received more than enough punishment for his actions. Shortly after he comes to power Denmark is in a state of turmoil, and as displayed in the critical essay titled Hamlet the Populist Politician, he faces problems not only on a military front, but on the home front as well. Not only must he deal with the fact that Hamlet …show more content…
Claudius inherits the uprising of Young Fortinbras from his brother, the old king. Almost like a curse for killing his brother, the constant threat of invasion by Fortinbras is always looming on the horizon. Even though young Fortinbras is not deeply displayed the play, it is apparent that he constantly remains on the Kings mind. Early in the story King Claudius tries contacting the King of Norway, hoping to ask him for help in restraining Young Fortinbras. While waiting for a response from the King, Claudius tries to trick Young Fortinbras into underestimating his capabilities. King Claudius believes that Young Fortinbras holds a “weak supposal of our worth” (1.2.18), and he wants to continue to display that image, snidely commenting that “by our late dear brother’s death our state be disjoint and out of frame, colleagued with this dream of his advantage,” (1.2.19-21). It is easy to give the illusion that your empire is weak when it actually is; Claudius’s empire is slowly falling apart. Claudius is trying and failing to hold together his