Compare And Contrast Claudius And Hamlet

Disloyalty leads to family destruction. The strength within a family is dependent on its loyalty towards one another. For when the loyalty is broken, the family is broken as well. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, disloyalty leads to many character’s deaths including Hamlet himself. In both Kenneth Branagh and Franco Zeffirelli’s version of Hamlet, the character of Hamlet is developed completely different, therefor creating a different message in each movie. Other characters such as Fortinbras, Laertes and Claudius are foils to Hamlet through the same and different worldviews.

The character Hamlet is the main character in the play and in both movies. He is the protagonist, who want’s to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet had immense

He is the major antagonist in the play and the story line is predominantly based around him. In Kenneth Branagh’s movie Claudius is seen as a very smart and crafty individual. He is always thinking of ways to make sure Hamlet does not find out what he has done. Claudius’s view of the good life is to have power, wealth and the lovely queen. This view affects how his character is portrayed in the story. Claudius loves power and will do anything for it. This is shown when he says “That cannot be, since I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.”(Act 3, scene 3, page 3) Claudius tells the reader that the reason he killed Hamlet Sr. was to get all these benefits. Claudius also shows that he is very manipulative and cunning. Claudius let’s Polonius spy on Hamlet, which ends up effecting Hamlet. Claudius’s sneaky and manipulative ways eventually lead to the death of Polonius at Hamlet’s hands. This killing of Polonius effects Hamlet, but no one knows it was truly under the influence of Claudius. Claudius acts as a foil for Hamlet, Hamlet is seen wearing dark black clothing in the beginning and it is because of Claudius, which is not yet discovered. The black clothing shows us that Hamlets worldview of the good life is family loyalty because he is focused on the mourning of his father’s death. The contradicting worldviews of Hamlet and

He is critical in helping Hamlet develop and ultimately delivering different messages and tones throughout the story. In Kenneth Branagh’s film Fortinbras is seen as seeking revenge for his father’s death. Hamlets and Fortinbras worldview are very similar, in terms of family and loyalty, which is why they never have a conflict between each other. Before Hamlet meets Fortibras he is seen wearing black clothing, which once again shows the theme of darkness. He is always plotting a way to kill Claudius but at the same time always finding an excuse not to. Once Hamlet meets Fortinbras his entire mood changes and he realizes he can truly fix this problem surrounding him. Hamlet states “ What is a man if his chief good and market of his time be but to sleep and feed… looking before and after, gave us not that capability and godlike reason to fust in us unused… sith I have cause and will and strength and means to do’t”(Act 4, scene 4, page 2) After this speech surrounding his new hope, he starts to wear white clothing noticeably in the fencing match contradicting the darkness the whole play. Hamlet meeting Fortinbras shows existentialism because after meeting Fortibras, Hamlet realizes that he has to make his own decisions. Another message that is important is that being well rounded and listing to advice pays off. At the end of the movie Fortibras is appointed king because of his flawless character. He listened to Polonius’s advice and it