In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, two characters are presented as polar opposites. In all actuality, they couldn’t be more alike. Claudius and Hamlet, according to the plot, led us to believe nonsensically that they are poles apart, “A little more than kin and less than kind” (NF, Act1, Scene2). The nature of the play fools us to believe that the relationship is in turmoil; therefore they must be different in character and nature. A contrast and comparison of characters must go beyond a superficial examination, to truly discover the similarities the two shares. Claudius clearly is not the king he believed himself to be, and Hamlet is definitely not the son he claimed he was. Shakespeare adumbrated for us to determine the way in which one character’s
