In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, revenge is a common theme throughout the play. Almost every major male character in the play, whether Prince Hamlet, Laertes, the ghost of King Hamlet, or King Fortinbras of Norway, acts in order to avenge a death. The obvious exception to this trend in the play is Claudius, king of Denmark and brother of King Hamlet. Instead of possessing a noble or vengeful goal throughout the play, Claudius is instead motivated by more evil qualities like his greed and deceptive nature. But despite his consolidated role as Prince Hamlet's antagonist, the degree of Claudius' true villainy is even more called into question. Claudius displays traits that deviate from the traditional idea of ​​a heartless, animal-like villain working for evil, while also representing the most foul villainous qualities that eventually dominate his human soul. This complexity of Claudius' character helps Shakespeare transcend the traditional villain. Unlike traditional villains, the facts suggest that Claudius has a conscience, even if he doesn't follow it. Although his negative qualities ultimately outweigh the good that he attempts to magnify to the public, the king displays certain qualities, such as his ability to care, love, and express guilt, that are somewhat hidden from the people Danish. He seems to highly value Polonius' opinion and is also kind to Ophelia. His love for Queen Gertrude is one of the most intriguing aspects of the play as it could be seen as his tragic flaw. He explains to Laertes why he does not seek justice against Hamlet after the murder of Polonius, saying: "The queen, his mother, almost lives by her appearance... my virtue or my pestilence... I could not by her" (4.7, 13-18). This reluctance to get rid of it... middle of paper ......acts and somehow creates a new type of villain. While Claudius is a lustful, greedy, corrupt, manipulative and deceptive murderer who will stop at nothing to achieve his own powerful ambitions, he also has a lighter, caring and loving side, which he shows to the audience. Although unbeknownst to the public, his omissions of guilt would be seen as positive if not for his immediate refusal to seek forgiveness in favor of maintaining his power, his queen, and his fortune. It's things like these that make Claudius such a complex character. He recognizes that there are right and wrong things to do, but often refuses to do the right things because doing wrong is more beneficial to him. He is a selfish villain who does not advocate the use of evil but rather its results. By describing Claudius in this way, Shakespeare manages to transcend the traditional view of a villain..