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Dialectical Journal Act IV, Vii

Claudius is able to easily manipulate Laertes into killing Hamlet. Polonius does not want to kill Hamlet himself because he loves Gertrude and wants to remain popular with the people. Claudius convinces Laertes that Hamlet's death will be seen as an accident and not blamed on anyone. Claudius demonstrates his ability to manipulate others to get what he wants, whether it is gaining power over Denmark or provoking assassinations. He is focused on controlling Laertes and doesn't mention Ophelia's death for fear it may interfere with his manipulation of Laertes.

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Myron Brandwine
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84 views1 page

Dialectical Journal Act IV, Vii

Claudius is able to easily manipulate Laertes into killing Hamlet. Polonius does not want to kill Hamlet himself because he loves Gertrude and wants to remain popular with the people. Claudius convinces Laertes that Hamlet's death will be seen as an accident and not blamed on anyone. Claudius demonstrates his ability to manipulate others to get what he wants, whether it is gaining power over Denmark or provoking assassinations. He is focused on controlling Laertes and doesn't mention Ophelia's death for fear it may interfere with his manipulation of Laertes.

Uploaded by

Myron Brandwine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Brandwajn 12

Act IV, scene vii.

“The queen his mother lives It is easy for Claudius to manipulate


almost by his looks” (12-13). Laertes to kill Hamlet. Cowardly but
“I could not but by her. The other intelligently, Polonius does not want to
motive, why to a public count I kill Hamlet himself because he loves
might not go, is the great love the Gertrude and most importantly, he does
general gender bear him” (15-17). not want to lose popularity with the
people. At this point in the play, where
chaos and devastation are ubiquitous, I
don’t seem to comprehend why
Claudius would care about the people’s
opinion. I think he hasn’t killed Hamlet
because of the guilty conscience he has
for killing King Hamlet. And after all,
they are all family.
“And for his death no wind of It is extremely impressive to see
blame shall breathe, but even his Claudius feeding Laertes with hunger
mother shall uncharged the for revenge and calming him down at
practice and call it accident” (64- the same time. He speaks of Hamlet’s
66). death to excite Laertes and then
changes the subject again. Claudius
demonstrates how important his ability
to manipulate is for the play. He can
use it to sway the multitude of
Denmark when he takes over the
kingdom to gain the confidence of the
people, and he can also use it to
provoke assassinations. This
characteristic corroborates his
ambivalence when being very
calculative, and also very surreptitious.
“Let’s follow, Gertrude: How Claudius does not mention anything
much I had to do to calm his rage! about Ophelia’s horrible death. He is
Now fear I this will give it start more worried that his puppeteer
again; therefore, let’s follow. manipulation of Laertes might be
affected consequentially to the news of
Ophelia’s death.

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