The Theme of Greed in Hamlet

Theme

Greed is the intense desire for something. Things such as money, power, and status are selfishly craved when an individual is avaricious. In Hamlet, a great example of greed is seen through Claudius's actions. In order to gain ultimate power and status, Claudius murdered his own brother, who was the king of Denmark at the time. He married his brother's wife, Gertrude, the former queen, shortly after gaining power. Hamlet, the son of the late king and Gertrude as well as the rightful heir to the throne, found out about his father death and threatened Claudius's power. His greed for power had no bounds, so fearing that Hamlet might try to claim the throne, Claudius had Hamlet sent to England and planned his demise to protect his secret and maintain his status. Polonius, King Claudius's adviser and the father of Ophelia and Laertes, is another great example of greed in Hamlet. Polonius is greedy for control and manipulates everything around him in order to develop his status and gain favor with the king and increasingly more power. The characters, King Claudius and Polonius, exemplify greed in William Shakespeare's play and show the extent to which an individual is willing to act in order to achieve their goals.

Act 2

Polonius is a very manipulative and controlling person. He is the adviser to King Claudius and is absorbed by self-interest. Polonius is obsessed with control of every aspect of his life, such as his family and his status. In Scene 2, Polonius sets out to prove to Claudius that Hamlet has gone insane. He presents evidence to the King to prove his point, namely Hamlet's love letters to his daughter, Ophelia. Polonius seeks the king's approval by asking, "What do you think of me?" (Ham. 2.2.137) Polonius's hunger for control had to come through the gaining of promotion and status, for which he uses manipulation without compunction. Asking about for the king's favour, he shows his self-interest for power and status. This greed for control drives Polonius and eventually leads to his unintended death whilst acting on behalf of the king.

Cristian Ibarra Santillan, Earth on our Hands, February 28, 2020. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cristian_ibarra_santillan/49595462707> Last accessed on August 8th, 2022.

Speech (Ham. 2.2.127-139)

POLONIUS

O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not

art to reckon my groans, but that I love thee best, O

most best, believe it. Adieu.

Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst

this machine is to him, Hamlet.

This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me,

And more above, hath his solicitings,

As they fell out by time, by means, and place,

All given to mine ear.

KING

But how hath she received his love?

POLONIUS

What do you think of me?

KING

As of a man faithful and honorable.

Booyabazooka, Comedy and tragedy masks without background, January 3rd, 2017. <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Comedy_and_tragedy_masks_without_background.svg> Last Accessed on August 8th, 2022.

Speech (Ham. 3.3.39-75):

King:

O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven;

It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t,

A brother’s murder. Pray can I not,

Though inclination be as sharp as will.

My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,

And, like a man to double business bound,

I stand in pause where I shall first begin

And both neglect. What if this cursed hand

Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood?

Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens

To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy

But to confront the visage of offense?

And what’s in prayer but this twofold force,

To be forestalled ere we come to fall,

Or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up.

My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer

Can serve my turn? “Forgive me my foul murder”?

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.

May one be pardoned and retain the offense?

In the corrupted currents of this world,

Offense’s gilded hand may shove by justice,

Act 3

Claudius, the murderer of the late King Hamlet, has just watched a play which directly reenacts his plot to murder his brother. While alone, he experiences his guilt. However his greed for power and status stayed centralized in his mind. Without regret, Claudius mentions to himself:

Forgive me my foul murder'?

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.

May one be pardoned and retain the offence? (Ham. 3.3.55-59)

The "offence" as defined in the quote, shows how the result of his greedy decision to murder his brother brings him all he desires, greatly outweighing his grief and torment for the immoral crime that he committed. His disregard of the grief for his actions shows the extreme extent to which his greed has corrupted him.

Citation

• Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Coteau Books, 1983.
• Solomandra, Blue dragon on a pile of gold, January 22nd, 2019. <https://depositphotos.com/239339304/stock-photo-blue-dragon-on-a-pile.html> Last Accessed on August 8th, 2022.
• Cristian Ibarra Santillan, Earth on our Hands, February 28, 2020. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cristian_ibarra_santillan/49595462707> Last accessed on August 8th, 2022.
• Booyabazooka, Comedy and tragedy masks without background, January 3rd, 2017. <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Comedy_and_tragedy_masks_without_background.svg> Last Accessed on August 8th, 2022.
• Oleksandr Yashnyi, Puppet Icon, May 01, 2019. <https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/puppet-icon-the-concept-of-management-manipulation-clean-and-modern-vector-gm1146261950-308811698> Last Accessed on August 8th, 2022.