In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Prince Hamlet openly shares his thoughts on King Hamlet, his father, and Claudius, his uncle. King Hamlet and Claudius are brothers and Prince Hamlet makes it quite evident that he believes his father to be a great and noble man, while he views his uncle as a corrupt and twisted man. In his literary criticism over Hamlet, “Dust and Divinity: Hamlet’s Fractured World,” John Russell captures and discusses Prince Hamlet’s opinions of King Hamlet and Claudius in a meaningful and effective way.

First, Russell proves that Prince Hamlet thinks that his father, King Hamlet, was a distinguished and honorable man before he was murdered by his brother, Claudius. For example, Russell says that “Hamlet divinizes his father” (Russell, 3). The reader can see that Hamlet does think of his father in an extremely lofty way and holds him with high regard because Hamlet never says anything belittling about his father. Russell’s criticism of Prince Hamlet’s feeling toward his father are also supported by the facts that Hamlet mourned over his father’s death longer than anyone else, and Hamlet completely hated and disagreed with his mother’s decision to marry Claudius less that a month after the funeral. Additionally, Russell mentions Hamlet saying, “Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself, an eye like Mars, to threaten and command, a station like the herald Mercury…A combination and a from indeed where every god did seem to set his seal” (Hamlet, III, iv, 57-62). In this quote, Hamlet tells how mighty and glorious King Hamlet was, and Hamlet extols his father as a great human purposefully made marvelous by the gods. Through this quote, Russell’s point is proven further and appears to be even more convincing. Although Claudius seemed to dislike King Hamlet, Prince Hamlet makes his father out to be a superior man and greatly displays his adoration for him.

Moreover, Russell shows that Hamlet thinks of his uncle, Claudius, as an evil and traitorous man who deserves no respect. For instance, Russell says according to Hamlet, Claudius’ “qualities are so degraded that they scarcely measure up to a normal human register” (Russell, 3). Russell’s point here is legitimate because it is exhibited several times in the play when Hamlet promises to kill Claudius, despises and rebukes Gertrude for marrying Claudius, and says spiteful things about Claudius throughout the drama. Hamlet loathed Claudius and thought awfully little of him, as is clearly pointed out by Russell. Furthermore, Russell tells, “[Hamlet] debases his uncle: Claudius is ‘A mildewed ear / Blasting his wholesome brother’ …and ‘A king of shreds and patches’” (3). These quotes make it even more evident that Hamlet thinks nothing good of his uncle. Russell’s explanation of Hamlet’s perspective of his uncle is definitely supported and reasonable. Through these aspects of Russell’s literary criticism, the readers can plainly see that Hamlet considered his uncle in a poor and low manner.

In conclusion, John Russell does an excellent job of portraying Hamlet’s views of King Hamlet and Claudius in a clear method that is persuasive. Russell also reinforces his points further by telling of how Hamlet compares his uncle to his father. Russell’s arguments that Hamlet esteems King Hamlet and despises Claudius are well written and supported in his literary criticism.