Usurpers of Power
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Claudius from Hamlet and Edmund from King Lear are similar characters, they both act for their own gain. They both want power, and will do what it takes to get it. They will use death to fulfill their desires, no matter who they have to kill. Ironically, they both are killed in the end by the people their plots affected most. Out of the two Edmund is much more appealing to the reader. Shakespeare created both characters from the same greedy root, and it makes for very interesting plot components in each story.
Claudius and Edmund use death to achieve their goals. In Hamlet, Claudius kills the king, his own brother to get the title of king and all that comes with it, including his widowing wife, Gertrude. Claudius wanted power and could not wait until King Hamlet died; instead he kills him and takes his throne and all that is due to him. Another incentive for committing this crime is to delay younger Hamlet's arrival to the throne...