On Hamlet's background

[Lingard]

I'm a new member of this community, and I'm thrilled to visit this forum.
At this time I just want to recommend - but maybe it has already been done - the extraordinary novel by John Updike titled Gertrude and Claudius (Alfred A. Knopf, 2000), where a most interesting perspective opens on the events which led to the drama. Besides Updike's marvelous prose, I obtained a different point of view, more sympathetic to Hamlet's mother and his uncle than is commonly held.

[Gladys]

A viewpoint sympathetic to Claudius is hard to imagine.

[artfuldodger23]

I agree Gladys.... the fact that he committed a murder makes him far from good.... but that doesn't necessarily meant he was a bad ruler though... if you meant by rule the citizens seemed to respect him and all but he didn't make any bad choices for denmark... maybe thats the perspective you are implying Lingard?

[Lokasenna]

A viewpoint sympathetic to Claudius is hard to imagine.

Really? I suppose it depends on how its staged, but I've seen productions that make him a very sympathetic character. For example, I've seen it implied that Gertrude and Old Hamlet had a political marriage, which was all show and no love; her true love lying with her husband's brother. Claudius' fratricide, if committed for love rather than power makes him a flawed, but very human character.

Ultimately, we really only have Hamlet (and to a lesser extent Horatio) as a source of criticism for his rule...

That is, at least, one interpretation...

[jocky]

Claudius was also couragous, I cite his calmness when confronted by Laertes.

[Lokasenna]

Claudius was also couragous, I cite his calmness when confronted by Laertes.

Though when he says "there's such divinity doth hedge a king" it can be seen as rather ironic.