Character Analysis: Claudius

1. "Therefore our sometime sister, now our Queen, th' imperial jointress to this warlike state..." (I.2.8-9)
   Everyone who reads the play Hamlet is forced to hate Claudius from the start. He is giving a speech about the grievances of the King's death. However, he is also throwing in there how the day is mixed with sadness and joy because a new marriage has taken place. He is very selfish, and later we find out he does not care about the King's death because Claudius is the one who killed the King!

2. "How is it that the clouds still hang on you?" (I.2.66)
   Claudius is so inconsiderate! He says this to Hamlet because Hamlet is acting very depressed and glum. Obviously Hamlet is still going to be upset and the "clouds still hang on him" because his father so recently died! And again, it is even more terrible that Claudius is saying this considering he is the one who killed the king.

3. "Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Moreover that we much did long to see you, the need we have to use you did provoke our hasty sending. Something have you heard of Hamlet's transformation..." (II.2.1-5)
   Claudius is speaking to Hamlet's good friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Claudius uses them to try and find out what is going on with Hamlet and why he is acting so strangely. Maybe Claudius is doing it out of love, because he cares about Hamlet. Or maybe Claudius is doing it because he is worried Hamlet is up to something that might end up being bad for himself. Either way, we later find out that Claudius wants Hamlet killed, so I would say he wanted to know what was going on for his own personal gain. I do not think Claudius ever loved Hamlet.

4. "O, 'tis too true. How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! The harlot's cheek, beautied with plast'ring art, is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden!" (III.1.49-54)
   Here, some readers may get confused because this line is thrown in so randomly. Claudius says this after Polonius says, "And pious action we do sugar o'er the devil himself" (III.1.46-47) In which he is basically saying that people act holy, or spiritual to cover up their bad deeds. Claudius, who up to this point we think has no heart and only cares about himself, actually feels guilty! But it is only for an instant.

5. "Do not fear our person. There's such divinity doth hedge a king that treason can but peep to what it would..." (IV.5.122-124)
   Claudius is telling his wife, the Queen, not to fear Laertes anger and need for revenge. Laertes is furious when he finds out that his father was murdered and he thinks Claudius did it. Claudius tells Gertrude not to be afraid because there is a type of divine protection that will keep them safe. That is a ridiculous thing to say. Yes, God can keep you safe. But Claudius is saying that he will be protected just because he is king.

6. "No place indeed should murder sanctuarize; revenge should have no bounds." (IV.7.127-128)
   Claudius makes me so angry. Laertes is talking about getting revenge because he found out that Hamlet murdered his father. He wants revenge so bad that he said he would even "cut his throat in church" (IV.7.126). Clearly, Claudius is not a spiritual person because his response to this was that revenge has no bounds. Meaning that it's okay to murder someone in church, as long as it is for revenge. Claudius is a terrible person.