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Hamlet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Home | Hamlet: Characters and relationships | Claudius

Characters and relationships

Hamlet
Claudius
Gertrude
Ophelia

Claudius: a new style of politician

Who's this? Clive Wood plays Claudius.

Did you know? As an alternative to 'holder of elected office', the Oxford English Dictionary defines a 'politician' as 'a schemer who acts in a manipulative and devious way to gain advancement'. By this definition most of the characters in Hamlet are political animals; they play each other for power.

Claudius

Confession?
Claudius: a new style of politician
Court paranoia - handling Polonius
Polonius: is he clever or a fool?
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