Literature

The greed of power blinds human conscience and provokes an individual to commit unethical acts. The character of Claudius in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare succumbs to his greed for power and acts maliciously. The play focuses on the revenge exacted by Prince Hamlet of Denmark on his uncle Claudius. Claudius had killed Hamlets father, the King and taken the throne. Claudius even marries Gertrude, Hamlets mother. Prince Hamlet resolves to kill Claudius when the ghost of his father reveals to him that Claudius has murdered him and he wants his son to avenge his death. Hamlets revenge is justified because the manner in which Claudius seeks to fulfill his selfish desire of ascending the throne is not only unethical but also demeaning.

The evil actions of Claudius are revealed to Hamlet by the ghost of his father. Sleeping within my orchard, My custom always of the afternoon,Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial. Upon knowing the truth, Hamlet avenges his fathers death by killing Claudius. Considering Claudius evil intentions and greed for power, Hamlets revenge is justified, for Claudiuss behavior goes against the ethics of humanity. Claudius is a man who gives significance to the fulfillment of his desires more than his brothers life and morals. For the fulfillment of his selfish desire of acquiring the throne of Denmark, Claudius commits the unethical act of killing his own brother whom he is supposed to protect and care for.

The behavior of Claudius as a brother is shameful and pusillanimous, for he chooses to poison his brother when he is asleep, a time when one is most vulnerable. The cowardly way, in which Claudius brings an end to his brothers life, is demeaning. Even after his brothers death, Claudius goes on to carry out the shameful act of marrying his brothers wife. During a time, when he is supposed to be mourning the death of his brother, Claudius decides to marry his brothers widow. Hamlets revenge serves as an appropriate and just punishment for Claudiuss debasing act of murdering ones own brother.

Claudius even plans to kill Hamlet when he realizes that Hamlet has become a threat to his throne and his life. He hatches a plan to kill Hamlet by utilizing Laertes hatred for Hamlet. Here also, Claudius chooses to kill Hamlet through deceit and utilize a poisoned wine for achieving his aim. And that he calls for drink, Ill have prepared him A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, If he by chance escape your venomd stuck, Our purpose may hold there. Claudius does not display any kind of regret or guilt for committing an atrocious act of murdering his own brother. On the contrary, he plans to kill Hamlet so that his life and throne are secure. By killing a man like Claudius, Hamlet brings an end to his crimes.

Upon knowing the truth regarding his fathers death, Hamlet makes up his mind to avenge his fathers murder by killing Claudius, his fathers murderer. Hamlet succeeds in accomplishing his aim of revenge when he kills Claudius. Hamlets revenge is justified, for Claudius poisons his own brother for fulfilling his desire of becoming the King of Denmark. Claudius act of cowardice of killing his brother while he is sleeping, and later marrying his brothers wife is unethical and demeaning. Hamlets revenge puts an end to the life of an individual who is so blinded with his greed for power that he goes to the extent of committing the appalling act of killing his own brother.