Claudius Flashcards
Who is Claudius?
- Hamlet’s uncle, now King of Denmark.
- Intelligent, persuasive, and politically skilled, but also morally corrupt — he killed his own brother to gain power.
Key quotes for Claudius
“O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven” – Claudius admits the gravity of his crime, using biblical imagery to show its moral corruption.
“Words without thoughts never to heaven go” – Shows his awareness that his prayers are hollow and won’t be heard by God.
“Madness in great ones must not unwatched go” – Reveals Claudius’s political cunning, seeing Hamlet’s instability as dangerous.
Main themes for Claudius
Corruption/Power – Kills for the crown, manipulates others, and maintains a false image.
Religion – Struggles with guilt and inability to pray sincerely.
Ambition – Power-driven, but aware of the moral consequences.
Death – Starts the play’s cycle of violence.
Revenge – Target of Hamlet’s revenge; mirrors of each other.
Context for Claudius
Claudius represents the Machiavellian ruler—ruthless and politically effective but morally bankrupt. His guilt reflects Elizabethan anxieties about the decay of royal authority and divine justice.
