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1. 
   mshurn Teacher
   College - Freshman

   eNotes Editor

   Claudius becomes king while Prince Hamlet is away at school. When Hamlet's father dies, his mother, Queen Gertrude, marries Claudius, who is her dead husband's brother. Thus, King Claudius and Queen Gertrude rule Denmark when Hamlet returns after his father's death. Once home, Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father with the truth that he had been murdered by Claudius. These events, which occur as part of the play's antecedent action, drive the tragedy that follows.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/list-characters

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/summary

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   Posted by mshurn on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 10:55 AM
   
   

2. 
   mr-robitaille Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Primogeniture was not practiced in Shakespeare's day. Although King Hamlet had a son, that son's succession to the throne was not automatic. Perhaps the King had not yet named his heir, which would open the kingship to election by the nobles. There is evidence of this in Hamlet's comment following the death of Claudius and his own fatal wounding:

   I do prophesy the election lights on Fortinbras.

   It is likely that after killing King Hamlet, Claudius used Hamlet's absence at school and the fact of his marriage to Gertrude to manipulate that election so that he could be king. He was certainly a skilled diplomat, and there was definitely an immediate need for rulership, given the impending threat from Norway. It seems very likely that Claudius used this pretext to manoeuvre his way onto the throne.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet-text/act-v-scene-ii?start=3

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/act-v-scene-2-summary-analysis

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   Posted by mr-robitaille on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 11:02 AM