Claudius's love for Hamlet

[juliekim]

In the beginning of the story, when Claudius talks about how he wants Hamlet to be near him and accept him as his father and how he loves Hamlet so much and all that, I thought he was lying. But now I kinda think that's because I knew what he did later to Hamlet. Maybe he actually did mean those things at first.

Isn't there some possibility that Claudius actually did try to love and accept Hamlet in the beginning? He did eventually kill Hamlet but wasn't that after he felt threatened by him? Do you guys think that he was lying from the start about his love/concern for Hamlet?

[cathysjun]

I think Clauduis never loved Hamlet. Instead I think Claudius was just being nice to Hamlet in the beginning out of regret. Claudius was being selfish. He tried to clear his sins by being nice to Hamlet and make up for what he did wrong. I think this can't be portrayed as love.

[minjaeyang]

At first, I think Claudius was being nice to Hamlet to cover his crimes. He felt guilty for the thinks he did and tried to feel better by being nice to Hamlet. However after a while, Hamlet began to threaten Claudius which is when Claudius began to try to kill Hamlet. So at first, I think Claudius really meant to be nice to Hamlet.

[ginayang]

I think Claudius was lying from the start about his love/concern for Hamlet. He was just trying to look like a good husband and father in front of others. Plus, Claudius used other people like Polonius, Rosencranz, and Guildenstern to find out what was wrong with Hamlet. He never had a heart to heart conversation with Hamlet like a good father would. And if Claudius actually loved Hamlet, he would not have killed Hamlet. He would have confessed his sins and gladly received his punishment.

[michellelee]

I think Claudius was trying to be nice to Hamlet because he felt regretful of his murder at first. So, I guess it wasn't truly coming from his heart but he was just feeling guilty. Or maybe he was acting like he cared about Hamlet just to make Hamlet think that he could replace his father.

[hannahs]

I don't think Claudius loved Hamlet from the start. I don't think you can want to kill someone if you loved someone at any certain point in your life. I think the only reason he was being nice to Hamlet was to try to please the queen.

[jessicashim2013]

I don't think CLaudius loved Hamlet. It can be in both ways: He felt sorry for killing his dad, so he tried to be nice to him, or in order to conceal his crime. In Act3, Claudius prays and regrets about mudering the King. So I assume that he felt the duty to care for Hamlet. If he was being mean to Hamlet, the queen and people around him can be suspicious about the death, therefore he acted as if he mourned for the death and caring his new family.

[RegXD]

I think claudius is being a good stepfather in the beginning but towards the middle where hamlet starts to act crazy and stuff. he started to lose hope in him but still think about him and have concern towards him rather than the father love for him.

[seongrae]

I don’t think Claudius actually tried to love and accept Hamlet like a real son. He might have tried to make him to love him and get a respect from hamlet, but I don’t think that Claudius tried to love and accept Hamlet. As Claudius kind of afraid that Hamlet knows something about the past king’s death, so the fear that Claudius had made him to kill Hamlet at the end. Therefore, I think Claudius was lying from the start about his love or concern for Hamlet, since also he wanted to send Hamlet to England and kill him.

[julielu]

hello

[sujeonggg]

I also don't think Claudius ever loved Hamelt. Maybe it kinda seemed that he was "trying" at first, but I think it was all because he wanted to hide what he has done. Also, we saw many times that Claudius trying to look good to Gertrude. If he was truly trying to love and be his father, he shouldn't have lashed out Hamlet for grieving over long time. He should've embrace his "nephew-son."

[jessicak016]

If Claudius really loved Hamlet, he would not have killed his father in first place. He should have known that it would cause Hamlet a lot of harm. For Claudius, the throne and political were the most important things. For him, Hamlet's presence added stability to the reputation of the royal palace. But because he had hard time dealing with Hamlet, he concludes that Hamlet should be eliminated, so that he can fully extend his influence over the palace and the country.

[sarahlee2]

If I have never heard of Hamlet before I think I would've at least a little thought that Claudius did say those things because he cared and loved Hamlet. But then, I think I could have still doubted his concern for Hamlet becaude Claudius did marry Gertrude really soon after his dad's death. I feel like the tone of Claudius's words whrn he said that was a bit insincere so it shows a bit more that he didnt mean those words. It is just another part of the story that contributes to the theme of uncertainty.

[kiranshoaib]

I think i do agree with you, Claudious might have decided to accept Hamlet as his own son and take care of him after he got rid of Hamlet's father. As we do see him praying to get his sins forgiven and him feeling so guilty about those sins later on, in the play. Thus, it could be in his mind that he would have wanted to accept Hamlet and Gertitude as his family because he only wanted to become the king but getting rid of Hamlet was not a part of his intentions from the beginning, may be? He kind of got threatened by Hamlet later on, which is why for his own defense, he had to kill Hamlet.

[sojounggg]

no
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
king claudius killed hamlet's death
that means he can do anything or his place(being a king)
i thinkg e was just pretending.