Claudius, Hamlet, and Chaucer's Physician's Tale (Part 4, Claudius series)
Scholars note as many as nine Shakespeare plays either based on Chaucer tales, or strongly influenced by them [1]. So finding points of similarity between Hamlet and Chaucer’s “The Physician’s Tale” may come as no surprise to fans of the two poets [2]. Chaucer may have influenced Shakespeare’s naming of Hamlet’s uncle, “Claudius,” as there are two Claudiuses of questionable moral character in the Chaucer tale. - In Chaucer, Appius Claudius lusts after Virginia and is willing to act immorally to possess her. - In Hamlet , Claudius wants to possess both the throne and his brother’s wife, and is willing to kill to obtain and keep them. - Chaucer’s Appius Claudius employs another Claudius, a “churl,” to lie for him in court. - Hamlet’s uncle Claudius enlists the help of Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern, to spy on the prince. - Chaucer’s Virginia is virtuous and hopes to be saved from scandal. - In Hamlet , Gertrude and Ophelia are virtuous (or “seeming virtuous” as the ghost calls h...