Evil And Its Affect On Clodius Essay, Research Paper

The Nature of Evil and how it affected Clodius

The balance between good and evil is a fundamental aspect of civilization — evil, and its temptations, have always conflicted with the good and its immaculateness. It is in this macrocosm that is a vital aspect of the infrastructure of human nature that the true role of man appears. As man searches for the equilibrium in which he must survive It is in these extremes however that the purity emerges and a true being is manifested. Pure evil is a being who no longer has a functioning conflict and altho recognizing the consequences of his actions maintains his course without a concept of guilt or remorese. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the idea of pure evil and character flaws in the anti-hero are explored. Shakespeare illustrates the failings of all characters and indicated that no one can be the manifestation of an emotion.

The quest for power and wealth is an intrinsic aspect of man’s soul. Ambition is the driving factor fueling man s constant evolvement and stride for advancement. In this quest for power and success, the temptation of evil can become overwhelmingly consuming — the most righteous man can be enraptured. Ambition, and ultimately his greed, consumed Clodius in the same manner. In his quest for the crown, Clodius was able to disregard his morality and murder his own brother.

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother s death/ the memory be green, and that it us befitted/ To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom/ to be contracted in one brow of woe,/ Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature/ that we with wiset sorrow think on him,/ Together with remembrance of ourselves./ Therefore our sometimes sister, now our queen,/ The imperial jointress of this warlike state,/ /Taken to wife.

Clodius had a choice: to choose between good and evil. He found his answer down the easy path — the one that tempts the eye, in order to hide its true identity where he could be immediately gratified. The evil lured him: allowing his ambition to overwhelm him, partially blurring the truth of his actions. It is in this lack of consciousness that he is able to rationalize the killing of his brother in addition to the marriage of his brother s widow to guarantee the throne.

The boundary between good and evil is fine and often blurred: man s conscious is one of the only methods for interpretation. Spawning from this consciousness, morality and guilt emerge indicating a sense of innate goodness. Although the evil in Clodius nature is illustrated, Shakespeare displays the work of an innate moral system that causes feelings of remorse and guilt to arise. It is in this tragic anti-hero that we see the conscious emerge taking away the purity of his evil.

Hamlet: He poisons him I the garden for his estate,/ His name s Gonzago; the story is exant, and writ in/ Choice Italian: you shall see anon how the murderer/ Gets the love of Gonzago s wife.

Ophelia: The king rises.

Hamlet: What, frighted with false fire!

Queen: How fares my lord?

Polonius: Give o er the play.

King: Give me some light. Away!

The evil in Clodius again manifests in his interaction with Hamlet. Clodius recognizes the possibility of insurrection, as he himself has committed, and plots to take out his only threat: Hamlet. Realistically, Hamlet is rendered invalid as his grief over his father and the o er hasty marriage of his mother engulfs him. Aside from being disabled by his grief, Hamlet is a procrastinator at heart who lacks the common sense in order to make a decision. Clodius, mad with his power and success, fails to recognize the truth of the situation and instead brings the demise of all around him. One of the major pawns in Clodius scheme is Laertes. Ripe with the pain of his families death and improper burials, Clodius exploits Laertes.

No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;/ Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,/ Will you do this, keep close within your chamber./ Malet return d shall know you are come home:/ We ll put on those shall praise your excellence/ And set a double varnish on the fame/ The Frenchman gave you; you may choose/ A sword unabated, and, in a pass of practice/ Requite him for your father. (iv, vii, 129-140)

Spawning from this vileness and conflict between Clodius and Hamlet others become pawns: Polonius dies, Ophelia becomes mad, Gertrude torn between dead husband, lover and son, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlets childhood friends) meet their death.

It is here Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain:/ No medicine in the would can do thee good,/ In thee there is not half an hour of life;/ The treacherous instrument is in thy hand./ Unabated and unvenom d: the foul practice/ Hath turn d itself on me; lo, here I lie, Never to rise again: thy mother s poison d;/ I can no more: the king, the king s to blame. (v, ii, 315-322)

Through the exploration of evil and the factors that lure people towards it, fundamental truths about the nature of human motivation are exhibited. The infrastructure of civilization is based around the temptations of man and how he overcomes them. Clodius exemplifies the inability of man to achieve purity inaction. Morality and weakness of character are some of the many flaws that plague humanity. Evil is rampant, as is goodness, the equilibrium between them is what causes the diversity and abstracts perfection that make up man.