The story's ambigous plot absolutly gives the impression that all royals and members in court involved are serving their own selfish desires ridden by vanity. The King of imprudence is none other than King Claudius. We are all aware that Claudius has killed his brother--Hamlet Sr.-- as hearty confessed by him on Act ii Scene iii "Forgive me my foul murder!...". Now that we are aware of the situation which leads to one of the two questions discussed in this blog: Is King Claudius, in short evil, or a flawed human being? Humans do have some evil integrated in them as well as good which can created a balance between the two. In King Claudius issue, he has more 'evil' qualities than good. First, we already know he killed his brother, but let's dig further and question why. In the beginning of the play, we learn Hamlet returns from college and discovers his father passing and his mother marrying her brother-in-law, or Hamlet's Sr.'s brother Claudius within a month after the King's passing. Hamlet describes the union between his mother and uncle as "with such dexterity to incestuous sheets" (Act 1, Scence 2). In reality, Queens who married their brother in law was incestuous  despite there is no blood relation. The Church (Roman) frowned upon such Unions, however; in regards to Hamlet, King Claudius; you gotta give him some credit, is a damn good politician for great timing.
Before King Hamlet Sr. murder occurred, we learn that he fought a war against the Norwegian King regarding a territorial dispute. The King of Norway had been defeated and struck down by Hamlet Sr. and taken the territories. When Hamlet Sr. dies, the state of Denmark is in jeopardy for two reasons: there is no available heir of Hamlet Sr. to claim the throne at the time of the murder and the Norwegian King's son, Fortinbras vows revenge against the state of Denmark over his father's death handed to him by Hamlet Sr. It's easy to see what plans Claudius had in mind. Hamlet was away to school as Fortinbras vowed revenge against Denmark which was revealed through an uncle of Fortinbras. Including Claudius selfish reasons to take the crown and have Geretude, he killed Hamlet Sr. and made his marriage in the eyes of Denmark as strengthening instead of incestuous due to the political troubles they were currently facing. But How does he convince Denmark of the union isn't incestuous? Upon his coronation , Claudius gives a great speech about his brother's passing and the danger Denmark may face soon which convinces the audience watching the crowning as Hamlet watches in disgust. In the end, Claudius evil actions define him as a merely flawed human serving himself.
Flawed or Evil, Claudius is in fact, responsible for one sorrow he had caused which can be the source of the problem: Hamlet. Claudius hadn't taken to account of Hamlet's reaction to his father's death, later murder. Neither did Geretude. On act 1, scene 2 Geratude and Claudius are irritated at Hamlet's black attire, showing his mourn for his later father. King Claudius advises Hamlet that " your father lost a father...of impious stubbornness  tis unmanly grief". In translation, King Claudius advises Hamlet to get over his father's death and move on, however, Shakespeare brings the question how long does it take to move forward in life of such a sudden death of a loved one? Certainly, not hamlet which brings up the next dispute. Because of Hamlet's Sr. ghost appearing to Hamlet and Horatio, usually the symbolic analogy of a ghost indicates something awful is going to occur. The ghost requests that Hamlet not allow that 'Denmark be a couch of for luxury and damned incest" (act 1, scene 5). Yet, this ghost doesn't directly instruct Hamlet to kill his uncle. It seem as if the ghost, or hamlets figment of his imagination planted the idea as if a solution for the sake and health of Denmark. Attempting to murder King Claudius seems the perfect solution to restore fair power within the State, and satisfying Hamlet's grief and ego. However, Hamlet had to act indifferently in order to complete the task. For instance, Hamlet wields his affections to Ophelia cold-heart fashion to discourage her affections towards him in order to fool people of his true intentions. He says to Ophelia "thee go to a nunnery". He intends to derail Ophelia's affections which causes some problems. Everyone is concerned for their health and safety from Hamlet, and soon people begin dying like flies, which in the end Hamlet does.