In the tragedy Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Hamlet's archenemy and main antagonist, Claudius, is evidently shown to the audience as an insidious, incestuous, and murderous usurper. However, despite his disgusting traits as a human being, Claudius exemplifies the respectable characteristics of a successful politician. He demonstrates the ability to manipulate others into doing his bidding, maintain democratic peace in his kingdom, and place the utmost importance on his kingship. Shakespeare is keen to show his audience that it does not necessarily take a virtuous man to be a prosperous king. Shakespeare symbolically has Claudius pour poison into Old Hamlet's ear to show Claudius' ability to use his corrupt words and manipulate the characters in the play. One of his first acts of manipulation, Claudius eventually convinces the Danish people to forget his brother's death and makes them focus on a common enemy, Fortinbras. Claudius' influential actions are implied during his monologue to his ambassadors, Voltimand and Cornelius: "young Fortinbras, / Having a faint guess of our worth, / Or thinking, by the death of our late dear brother / our disjoined state and out of frame" (1.2.17-20). Since the period between Old Hamlet's death and Claudius's inauguration is short, Fortinbras has reason to suspect that the Danish subjects are still mourning their lost king. However, Claudius manipulatively influences them, by means unknown to the audience, to prematurely abandon Old Hamlet's mourning and restore their faith in their new king. Furthermore, to determine the cause of Hamlet's madness, Claudius manipulates two of Hamlet's childhood friends to spy on him: “Let you grant your rest here in our court... middle of paper... in inaction to protect his relationship; he allows Gertrude to drink until she dies, rather than stop her and risk exposing herself. Finally, Claudius makes the ultimate sacrifice to retain the title of king: his soul. As Claudius prays for forgiveness of his crimes, he concludes with aversion that he cannot live with forgiveness and his crown: “It cannot be, since I am still possessed/ by those effects for which I committed murder: / my crown, my ambition and my queen. /Can one be forgiven and hold back the offense?" (3.3.54-57). Claudius is willingly condemning his soul to eternal damnation because he is unwilling to give up his position as king of Denmark. Even though Claudius selfishly puts danger numerous lives, including his own afterlife, his tenacity for power, coupled with protection of the crown, make him a good politician..