Claudius, Hamlet, and Nero, roads diverging in allusive woods (Part 12, Claudius series)

Hamlet's relation to his step-father, King Claudius,
and Nero's to *his* step-father, Claudius I,
offer key similarities and contrasts:

Many note that Hamlet in 1.2 dislikes Claudius calling him "son" so soon after his father's death. Memorable lines:

KING
... But now, my cousin Hamlet and my son—

HAMLET
[aside] A little more than kin and less than kind.

KING
How is it that the clouds still hang on you?

HAMLET
Not so, my lord; I am too much in the sun.
(1.2.66-69)

“Cousin" in Shakespeare's time could apply loosely to a nephew.
"...too much in the sun." [son - pun]

Although the name is not spoken in the play, in the 1604 Second Quarto and later editions, at the start of 1.2 (his first entrance), he is named: "Enter Claudius, King of Denmark...."

In 3.2, Hamlet mentions Nero:

Claudius I, Emperor of Rome, married his niece who already had a son, Nero;
Claudius adopted Nero as a son and heir;
so Nero was grand-nephew, step-son, and adopted son to Claudius I.

Claudius of Denmark married his sister-in-law, his brother's widow, who already had a son, Hamlet;
Claudius calls Hamlet his son and heir,
so Hamlet would be nephew, step-son, and adopted son to Claudius.

But the paths of Hamlet and Nero clearly diverge after 3.2: Hamlet does not want to kill his mother as Nero did:

HAMLET:
O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom.
Let me be cruel, not unnatural.
I will speak daggers to her, but use none.
(3.2.425-429)

In Shakespeare's allusive practice, he sometimes makes an allusion for the limited light it may shed, but then later discards it in favor of other allusions.

And in Shakespeare, allusions are significant not only for similarity, but also for contrast.

This is important, as sometimes we encounter an allusion and are tempted to think it might apply throughout the play, when in fact it may expend its limited light and be abandoned.

INDEX for series on the uncle’s name as “Claudius” in Shakespeare's Hamlet instead of “Feng” in the Danish source from 1200 AD:
https://pauladrianfried.blogspot.com/2024/11/index-why-claudius-not-feng-whats-in.html


NOTES: All references to Shakespeare plays are to the Folger Shakespeare Library online versions: https://shakespeare.folger.edu

IMAGES:
Upper Left: Derek Jacobi in Hamlet (1996) Dir. Kenneth Branagh, Columbia Pictures release, Castle Rock presentation, image via IMDB, fair use:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116477/mediaviewer/rm254219777/

Upper Right: Claudius as Jupiter, 1st C. AD, Round Hall by Michelangelo Simonetti, Vatican Museum. Photo by Gary Todd. Public domain via https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Claudius_as_Jupiter%2C_1st_C._AD%2C_Round_Hall_by_Michelangelo_Simonetti%2C_Vatican_Museum_%2848465336326%29.jpg

Lower Left: Kenneth Branagh in Hamlet (1996) Dir. Branagh, Columbia Pictures release, Castle Rock presentation, image via IMDB, fair use:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116477/mediaviewer/rm754390529/

Lower Right: Nero, Marble, AD 50–100 (with later restorations). Roma, Musei Capitolini; Archivio fotografico dei Musei Capitolini. © Roma, Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali. Photo © Zeno Colantoni. Fair use via British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/10-questions-about-emperor-nero-and-some-curious-answers

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Disclaimer: If and when I quote or paraphrase bible passages or mention religion in many of my blog posts, I do not intend to promote any religion over another, nor am I attempting to promote religious belief in general; only to explore how the Bible and religion influenced Shakespeare, his plays, and his age.
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