IClaudius is a television show filmed in 1976 as an adaption of Robert Graves’ IClaudius and Claudius the God. Graves wrote a bibliography on Claudius’ life based on the historical writings of Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, Juvenal and Suetonius. Sheila White plays Valeria Messalina in the television series IClaudius which is directed by Herbert Wise.
White portrays Messalina as a beautiful young woman with a hunger for power. This is driven by her aggressive personality and her everlasting hunger for sexual activity that motivates her to try and do anything to get what she desires. This hunger for power and control is eventually fatal when she is murdered in 48 AD in the Gardens of Lucullus .
The sources that record the life of Messalina give the reader an insight into the political bias that existed in Ancient Rome. It was thought back then to hold a powerful position in Rome you had to do one of two things, you would sleep your way to the top, by having numerous sexual relations with various men in powerful positions or you would poison your way to the top.
In the television series, Messalina is presented as a young nympho-maniac whom is driven by her sex-drive and shows little respect for her husband Claudius. In his company she adores him, however, whenever he isn’t around she shows little respect for her husband and holds him in a very low regard.
She is protective of her children, guarding them from an argument between herself and Claudius. Messalina is a
Claudius was the third emperor of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. He was born on 1 August 10 BC at Lagdunnum in Gaul. He was the son of Drusus Cladius Nero and Augustus’s wife Livia. But, he was then adopted by his uncle Tiberius. Claudius was born with defects that led him to limping, drooling, stuttering, and always being ill. His family members kept him out of the public so, there was no embarrassment. His whole childhood and teenage years was spent indoors, hidden away from everyone. He spent every day reading, which led him to learning liberal arts and history which helped him when he had more power.
Claudius, as emperor, was told it was politically necessary to have a partner, upon Messalina’s death, to help function and protect the Principate, one of few reasons for his marriage to Agrippina. It was Pallas who presented Agrippina’s case (as she was an eligible woman) convincingly. Claudius could not ignore her ambitious nature, the fact she was politically skilled, and importantly; a woman of the Julian bloodline. Agrippina’s motives were concentrated solely on herself, and her son, Nero. Agrippina married her uncle in hope that Nero would inherit the Principate. She wanted to promote her son to become emperor (Suetonius), and aspired for political power for herself in regards to the Principate and Claudius. The power gave her the ability to dispose of any enemies who got in her way.
When comparing the characters in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet to Disney’s The Lion King, they are similar. Hamlet is a play about a boy who lost his father and had to get revenge on his uncle, the new King and the killer of his father. The Lion King is a movie about a young lion who loses his father and then struggles with his uncle and finding his place in the circle of life. When specifically looking at Scar and Claudius they are similar because they are cruel, selfish, and two-faced.
Throughout history, literature has been able to captivate and enchant audiences of all backgrounds. Words have an undeniable ability to sway a crowd’s emotions and truly affect them. William Shakespeare, one of the most revered writers of all time, had such skills. His plays are timeless pieces of art considered the foundations of the English literature. Shakespeare’s most dramatic and infamous tragedy, Hamlet, has earned its place as a cornerstone. In the play, Shakespeare poetically writes speeches that show the true colours of the characters, whether good or devious. The main antagonist, Claudius, shows his treachery to the Elizabethan audience, through his speech to his wife Gertrude. Claudius’ conversation with Gertrude in Act 4,
In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, various characters manipulate others in order to gain power and fulfill their personal desires. The character who portrays the most immense manipulation is King Claudius, the brother of the late King Hamlet. Thus far, Claudius advertises himself as a sensible, honorable man who lives to serve the greater good, yet his manipulation exposes his dubious intentions, leaving him with an unfortunate fate.
In Act III, scene III, Shakespeare illustrates Claudius's inner turmoil with an internal monologue. In Claudius's soliloquy, he states that he had murdered his brother,the absolute confirmation that such an act has occurred. Through Claudius soliloquy, Shakespeare reveals Claudius's inner character and further characterizes his disposition, though the remorse he feels is not for his slain brother but for the consequences he faces because of it. Shakespeare is able to depict Claudius’s internal conflict and how it reflects his character.
Where this evidence survives it usually portrays any women who had any role in public affairs as not behaving in a manner that was befitting of a proper Roman women. For example, Fulvia is presented as “a counter-example of correct Roman women’s behavior” by literary sources for reportedly imposing her will upon the senate, and getting herself involved in
In the play Hamlet, Claudius is known as the villain of the play. He is the lead antagonist who is characterized as a cunning, incestuous, and vile, usurper. Many readers and critics of the play do not dispute this perception, especially after reading how Claudius became the King of Denmark; He steals the throne by poisoning his brother, the previous king, and quickly marrying Queen Gertrude his widowed sister in law (1.5.42, 60-74). The general reading of Claudius’s character paints him to be a corrupt, cowardly politician, in addition to being Hamlet’s (the protagonist) foe. This portrait engages first-time readers to judge Claudius immediately and although this perspective of his personality is proven to be true, it is limited. Claudius
concentrates on his mother's sexual relationship with Claudius by making many sexual allusions and berating his mother with them. He states that she seeks out "incestuous pleasure of his bed."(3.4 . l. 90) This exploring of his mother's carnal nature is because he is sexually concerned for
Claudius’ propensity towards fabrications is in direct violation with the Holy Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness; hence, he violates one of the pillars of Christian moral law.
Claudius and Hamlet are both very selfish men. Claudius wants to be the king of
Portia still tries to uncover the cause of Brutus' sorrow, and proves she is worthy of keeping a secret because of her nobleness. First she states,
How could such a thought leave a person’s lips? For Claudius to assume that the sorrow I feel over my father’s death is feigned. He even went so far as to compare my sorrow to that of a painting; the mere illusion of emotion, yet no substance. Just the thought of such an accusation leaves my hands shaking. He says the flame of love dampens with time, yet how can that be so, when every day I was away in France the fondness I felt for my family only grew. Especially for my sweet sister, Ophelia. Oh, poor Ophelia! You handed me rosemary the last time we saw each other, for remembrance, “please remember” you said. Were you to know your life was in danger as you hung those weeds upon those branches, or sung snippets of ballads as you were floating
O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! My ducats and my daughter!’ (II, iix, 15-17). He would ‘rather his daughter dead, and the jewels in her ear!’ (III, I, 81-82). Even though Shylock and Jessica’s relationship is filled with minor affection. Portia’s love for her father is visible and true.
Portia: Portia, being one of the main characters and the romantic heroine of the play, must be presented to the audience as a graceful, beautiful and intelligent person. We all know she’s beautiful, that needs no convincing. Portia is usually a fairly self-controlled person who likes to keep problems between her and her trustworthy lady-in-waiting, Nerissa. However there are certain times when she lets slip that she is an anxious person for example when Bassanio arrives at her mansion and is about to choose a casket. She has fallen in love with him and is having great difficulty in trying to conceal that fact. Her anxiety and confusion is what makes her lose her composure. Portia’s other appealing characteristic- probably one of the most apparent- is her graciousness, her amazing way of handling a situation with tact and