CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF

KING CLAUDIUS AND

POLONIUS
PUMRAH GHANA
ROLL NUMBER 06
 Who is king Claudius?

King Claudius is a fictional character and the main

antagonist of William Shakespeare’s tragedy
Hamlet. He is the brother to King Hamlet, second
husband to Gertrude and uncle and later stepfather
to Prince Hamlet. He obtained the throne of
Denmark by murdering his brother with poison
and then marrying the late king’s widow. He is
loosely based on the Jutish chieftain Feng who
appears in Chronicon Lethrense and in Saxo
Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum. There has never
been an actual Danish king of that name.
 King Claudius’s Personality Traits

 King Claudius in Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” exhibits

several distinct personality traits, as portrayed in the text:
 Ambitious
 Claudius is portrayed as ambitious, as he kills his own
brother, King Hamlet, to seize the throne and marry
Queen Gertrude. This ambition is evident in his soliloquy
in Act 3, Scene 3, where he acknowledges his guilt and
desire for power.

 Oh, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;

It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t, A
brother’s murder. Pray can I not, Though
inclination be as sharp as will. My stronger
 Articulate and Crafty

King Claudius in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” is depicted as articulate and crafty in several ways:
 Manipulative Language: Claudius is adept at using language to manipulate those around him. He skillfully deceives the court
and Hamlet about the true circumstances of King Hamlet’s death, casting doubt on the legitimacy of Hamlet’s suspicions.
 Public Address: He delivers eloquent and persuasive speeches, such as his address to the court to justify his hasty marriage to
Queen Gertrude, which helps maintain his image and power.
 Polished Demeanor: Claudius presents a polished and charismatic demeanor to the court, which masks his sinister intentions
and the guilt he feels for his actions.
 KING:
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom
Articulate and Crafty
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature(5)
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
The imperial jointress to this warlike state,
 Have we, as ‘twere with a defeated joy,
 With an auspicious, and a dropping eye,

 With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage,
 In equal scale weighing delight and dole,
 Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barr’d
 Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone(15)
Personality Traits

 Deceptive: Claudius maintains a façade of being a benevolent king, while hiding his true nature. This
deception is evident in his public speeches and interactions with the court.
 Pragmatic: He is pragmatic and concerned with maintaining his hold on the throne. He takes practical steps
to ensure his security, such as attempting to send Hamlet to England
 .Self-serving: Claudius prioritizes his own interests above all else. He is willing to sacrifice others, including
his wife and nephew, to protect his position as king.
 These personality traits contribute to Claudius’s complexity as a character and drive much of the play’s
conflict. His internal struggles and manipulative behavior play a significant role in the unfolding of the tragic
events in “Hamlet.
Guilt

In Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” King Claudius is a complex character who does indeed experience guilt for his
actions, and this is evident throughout the play.
Murder of King Hamlet: The primary source of Claudius’ guilt is the murder of his brother, King Hamlet. In Act
3, Scene 3, Claudius reveals his inner turmoil in a soliloquy:
“O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven;
It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t,
A brother’s murder.”
This passage demonstrates Claudius’s awareness of the enormity of his crime and the guilt that plagues him. He
acknowledges the moral and religious consequences of his actions.
 Guilt

 Marriage to Queen Gertrude: Another aspect of Claudius’s guilt is his marriage to Queen Gertrude, King Hamlet’s widow,
shortly after the king’s death. This hasty remarriage compounds his sense of guilt, as it appears to be a further betrayal of his
brother.
 Hamlet’s Antics: Claudius also becomes increasingly paranoid and guilty due to Prince Hamlet’s erratic behavior, which he
suspects is driven by Hamlet’s knowledge of the murder.
 Claudius says:
 “O, speak to me no more; these words like daggers enter in mine ears!”
 This reaction shows how Hamlet’s actions intensify Claudius’s sense of guilt.
 Guilt

The Play Within a Play: In Act 3, Scene 2, Claudius’s guilt is further exposed when he watches a play that closely mirrors the
circumstances of King Hamlet’s murder. He becomes visibly distressed and abruptly leaves the performance, which Hamlet
cleverly designed to test Claudius’s reaction and confirm his guilt.
Prayer Scene: In Act 3, Scene 3, Claudius attempts to pray for forgiveness for his sins. This scene is a pivotal moment where
Claudius’s guilt is on full display. He says:
“May one be pardon’d and retain the offence?
In the corrupted currents of this world
Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice,
And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself
 Buys out the law.”
Here, Claudius acknowledges the challenge of seeking forgiveness while still benefiting from his sinful actions, further
revealing his inner turmoil.
 Throughout the play, Claudius’s guilt is a central theme, and it ultimately leads to his downfall. His inability to escape the
consequences of his actions highlights the moral and psychological complexities presented in “Hamlet.”
 Actions and Repercussions

 1. Murder of King Hamlet:

 Claudius’s initial act Of fratricide, poisoning King Hamlet, sets in motion the chain of events that leads to his own demise. This
murder is the foundation of his guilt and fear.
 2. Usurping the Throne:
 Claudius’s hasty marriage to Queen Gertrude and his swift seizure of the throne raise suspicions and contribute to his downfall.
Many characters, including Hamlet, view his actions as illegitimate and unjust.
 3. Manipulation and Deceit:
 Throughout the play, Claudius engages in manipulation and deceit to maintain his grip on power. He attempts to manipulate Laertes
into seeking revenge against Hamlet, which ultimately leads to the events that result in his own death.
 4 . Conspiracy and Spying: Claudius conspires
 With Polonius to spy on Hamlet, further entangling himself in a web of deception. This contributes to the growing sense of
 Actions and Repercussions

Claudius’s Attempt to Kill Hamlet: Claudius plots Hamlet’s death by orchestrating the duel with Laertes and poisoning the wine. This
an ultimately leads to his own demise as Hamlet and Laertes turn against him.
Poisoning of Queen Gertrude: When Claudius attempts to kill Hamlet with a poisoned chalice, Queen Gertrude inadvertently drinks
om it and dies. Her death is a significant blow to his power and safety.
Hamlet’s Revelations: As Hamlet uncovers The truth about Claudius’s guilt through the play within a play and other means.
laudius’s secrets become exposed to theCourt and lead to his downfall.
Fortinbras’s Ambition: The external threatPosed by Fortinbras and his army also plays a role in Claudius’s downfall. The impending
vasion by Fortinbras creates additional chaos and distracts Claudius from hisefforts to maintain control.
Hamlet’s Revenge: Ultimately, Hamlet seeks revenge for his father’s murder, which directly leads to Claudius’s death. Hamlet’s
etermination to expose and punish Claudius is a driving force in the play’s tragic conclusion.
 Claudius’s actions, rooted in ambition and a desire to maintain power at any cost, lead to a series of events that culminate in his own
downfall and death.
 Who is Polonius?

Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare’s play

Hamlet. He is chief counsellor of the play’s ultimate villain,
Claudius, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Generally
regarded as wrong in every judgment he makes over the
course of the play,[1] Polonius is described by William
Hazlitt as a “sincere” father, but also “a busy-body, [who] is
accordingly officious, garrulous, and impertinent”.[2] In Act
II, Hamlet refers to Polonius as a “tedious old fool”[3] and
taunts him as a latter day “Jephtha”.
 Polonius: This business is well ended.My liege, and madam, to expostulate

What majesty should be, what duty is,

Why day is day, night night, and time is time,

nothing but to waste night, day, and time;

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,

I will be brief. Your noble son is mad:

Verbose and Pompous
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
Polonius is often depicted as
a well-meaning but overly What is’t but to be nothings else but mad?
verbose and pompous
Polonius: But let that go.
character. He tends to give
long-winded and somewhat King Claudius: More matter, with less art.
tedious speeches.
Polonius: Madam, I swear I use no art at all.That he’s mad, ‘tis true, ‘tis true ‘tis pity,

And pity ‘tis ‘tis true—a foolish figure,But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him then. And now remainsThat we find out the cause of this effec
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause.Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.Perpend.
 Nosy and Intrusive
 He is portrayed as a somewhat nosy and intrusive character, constantly trying to gather information and meddling in the affairs
others, particularly in his attempts to spy on Hamlet. And this was the trait which led him to death.

[Hamlet:To Polonius’s body] Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell!

 I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune.
 Spying on Laertes: Polonius instructs his servant Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes while he is in France and gather
information about his behavior and acquaintances. This shows his nosy and suspicious nature.
 Eavesdropping on Hamlet and Ophelia: Polonius arranges for Ophelia to engage in a conversation with Hamlet while he
and Claudius secretly listen in order to ascertain the cause of Hamlet’s “madness.”
 Interfering in Hamlet and Ophelia’s Relationship: Polonius advises Ophelia to break off her relationship with Hamlet, even
though it’s not clear that Hamlet’s intentions are harmful. He is more concerned with the potential political ramifications.
 Reading Hamlet’s Letters: Polonius reads the love letter Hamlet wrote to Ophelia, further invading their privacy.

Loyal
Polonius is a loyal servant to King Claudius
and is willing to do the king’s bidding, even if
it involves deceit and manipulation.
And King Claudius also approves of his trust
and close relationship to polonius
“I assure you, my good liege,
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
 Both to my God and to my gracious king.”
 KING CLAUDIUS
 And now, Laertes,
 What’s the news with you? You told us of some suit.
 What is’t, Laertes? You cannot speak of reason
 To the Dane and lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg,
 Laertes,
 That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?
 The head is not more native to the heart,
 The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
 Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.
What wouldst thou have, Laertes?
 Concerned and Loving Father
He is a concerned and loving father, as evidenced by his
interactions with his children, Laertes and Ophelia, though his
concern can border on overprotectiveness.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Polonius gives advice to his son Laertes,
including the famous lines: “Give thy thoughts no tongue, / Nor
any unproportioned thought his act.”
Polonius’s Actions

 Polonius’s actions in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” play a significant role in shaping the course of action in the
story. As the chief counselor to King Claudius, he is a pivotal character in the political and personal intrigue
of the play. Here are some key ways his actions influence the plot:

 Spying on Hamlet: Polonius decides to use his daughter Ophelia to spy on Hamlet, believing that Hamlet’s
madness is linked to his love for Ophelia. This decision leads to Ophelia becoming entangled in Hamlet’s
tragic downfall.

 Misinterpreting Hamlet’s Madness: Polonius wrongly attributes Hamlet’s madness to love for Ophelia,
rather than suspecting the real reason behind Hamlet’s erratic behavior. This misunderstanding contributes to
the chaos in the royal court.
Actions and Repercussions

 His Murder: Polonius’s decision to eavesdrop on Hamlet’s conversation with his mother, Queen Gertrude,
ultimately leads to his death. Hamlet, thinking Polonius is Claudius, kills him, setting off a chain of events
that intensify the conflict in the story.

Polonius’s Influence on Ophelia: His strict and controlling nature contributes to Ophelia’s emotional instability,
which, in turn, affects the course of events. Her madness and eventual suicide are tied to the way Polonius has
managed her life.

In summary, Polonius’s actions, driven by his loyalty to King Claudius and his desire to protect his family’s
reputation, have a significant impact on the unfolding of the story in “Hamlet.” His misguided decisions and
interference contribute to the tragedy and chaos that ensues.