hamlet
...at his death can be by the hand of Laertes. As if Claudius has not done enough he adds fuel to his raging fire, “Laertes, was your father dear to you?” (Shakespeare IV. vii. 122). He later states that he did not doubt Laertes’ love for his father but he thought that he would have been a little more angered than he expressed! This is certainly said in a devilish tone. Two more victims of Claudius’s abuse are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. As schoolmates of Hamlet, the King sends for them believing that they have the ability to find out what is wrong with Hamlet and why he is acting so fanatical, “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,” (Shakespeare II. ii. 2-5). Hamlet however, does not have great confidence in them as honest companions. It should be obvious to Claudius that he is plainly still in mourning for his father and distraught by the fact that his mother has remarried so soon after. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern abruptly agree, “But we both obey, And here give up ourselves in the full bent to lay our service freely at your feet, To be commanded,” (Shakespeare II. ii. 31-34). The two of them concur to act as Claudius’s drones and would never deny the wishes of a king. This branch of the story follows the reoccurring theme of finding direction through indirection; to spy on their “friend.” Hamlet does not have a lot of faith in them, “The characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are willing to turn a blind eye to evil in order to prosper or to avoid punishment” (“Literature” 142). Even after Hamlet figures them out and knows that they are just mere informants of his enemy they continue to watch him and report back Claudius. Their obedience to the King and their betrayal to Hamlet eventually result in their executions. Claudius’s most successful hoax would be that he completely deceived society as a whole. After personally murdering his brother he then sweeps away his wife and throne. Also for some unexplained reason the general public automatically excepts him as their new king. Claudius makes his opening speech as king addressing a few touch subjects, “Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that is us befitted To bear our hearts in grief,” (Shakespeare I. ii. 1-3). King Hamlet’s death was only two weeks ago and he says that as a unified kingdom that they must look forward into a bright future with him as their devout leader. ...