Comparing Chracters

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, I like to see it as a war of words.  This war of words lies between Claudis and Hamlet.  Although it may seem that Claudis is a loving father and a protector of his new step son, reading in between the lines and not the way that it is expressed, illustrates to the reader, Claudis real true deceptive side.  Instead of grieving and mourning his brothers death, he interweaves his happiness on the inside that he just got married to his brothers wife with the grief that he must show on the exterior.  The language and the paradoxical words that Claudis incorporates make this evident.  "Wisest sorrow... defeated joy...dirge in marriage...mirth in funeral."  Although it might seem that Claudis is mourning is brothers death, the subtleness of his language that is incorporated by Shakespeare makes it seem that there is something not right about the whole situation.  We later find out that Claudis killed his brother, then married his wife then temporarily denied his son of the throne.  Also we can see that Claudis is very strong, commanding and controlling.  We can see this through the fact that Claudis doesn't allow Hamlet to go to college.  This effectively illustrates the fact that Claudis is selfish and that it must be his way or its no way.  He wants Hamlet to stay for no reason except his own.  Claudis just wants the power to illustrate his power since he didn't really deserve to be next in line to the thrown.  Compared to Hamlet, Hamlet is more true to himself and he is not seeking the power.   There is no underlying meaning in what Hamlet says and although it might be rude, Hamlet is always true in his words.  This difference is effectively seen when Claudis is at the court talking to his nephew, the language that is employed there makes it seem that Claudis is a great man and that he will be giving the throne to Hamlet next.  This thus effectively illustrates the similarities between the two as they both can sometimes be rude in their comments, but the difference is the way that Claudis says it is subtle and interwoven while Hamlet just tells an aside and is completely truthful.  Also we see that Claudis is more nervous then he should be.  The down play of his brothers death is effectively illustrates his lack of care and the fact that he had something to do with his brothers murder.  He puts his son down and makes his son feel like dirt in order for everyone else to think that he needs to get over his fathers murder since Claudis needs the issue of Hamlet sr. death to fade.  His ironic and condescending language effectively illustrates his insecurities and his fear.