How Does Shakespeare Show Claudius Selfish

Throughout the play, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, by William Shakespeare, Claudius, the newly crowned King, can be seen as an ambitiously driven, yet corrupt and greedy man. Though he is driven to be seen as an honest, beloved King, he seeks his higher position through sinful acts and secrecy. Claudius, now in charge of all of Denmark, must prove himself to his fellow peers and people after his eldest brother’s recent death. His first speech given to his courtiers is full of displayed passion and mourning through his thought-out words. When the king states, “Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen… Taken to wife” (Shakespeare, Act I, Scene ii, Lines 10-14), he says that he has taken it upon himself to step up to the throne as king during …show more content…
He soon finds himself alone to confide in himself, his actions. He falls to his knees and attempts to pray, “O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven… A brother’s murder” (Shakespeare, Act III, Scene iii, Lines 37-39). He has come to realize the truth of his sin, and though he knows the depth of his sinister act, with it being the oldest sin, and longs for forgiveness, yet Claudius knows he cannot be forgiven because he is unprepared to give up what has been gained through his brother’s murder; the crown and the Queen. Making it so that he is willing to go to Hell before giving up his Queen and the crown. This is one part in the play where it is questioned if Claudius does have a heartfelt side with the Queen, that he truly loves her and therefore cannot give up the crown. Yet, though he acknowledges his wrong doings, he is unwilling to give up the power he has now reached. At this point in the play, with this being the climax, shows the audience that what was assumed is now true, Hamlet’s uncle did indeed kill his father, and like his brother, he will go to purgatory if he can not find the will to pray and let go of his