Hamlet returns from his studies to discover that his uncle, Claudius, has murdered Hamlet's father, the king of Denmark. Hamlet swears to avenge his father's death by killing Claudius. Although Hamlet is obsessed with killing Claudius, his conscience seems to be tormented by the enormity of the murder. Claudius's complicit assassination of the king and Hamlet's desire for justice make the two characters seem quite different. Hamlet, the beloved prince, is supposed to kill Claudius, the scheming usurper. Yet, in a certain sense, Hamlet seeks the same path as Claudius. He wants to murder Claudius, just like Claudius murdered his father. However, doing this would bring Hamlet down to Claudius' level. The lust, manipulation, selfishness, and even doubt that are so clearly visible in Claudius also exist in Hamlet and become apparent as he contemplates his revenge. One aspect of the lust exhibited by Claudius and Hamlet is revealed in their pitiful relationships with women. The ghost of Hamlet's father describes Claudius as ". . . this incestuous beast, this adulterated beast, . . . has won by his shameful lust the will of my . . . queen” (IV42-46). The Ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius committed incest and adultery with Gertrude by seducing her. Often in the play, Hamlet describes his disgust at the situation: “With such dexterity towards incestuous sheets! » (I.ii.158). Yet Hamlet himself demonstrates lust and obsession in many letters to Ophelia: “To the celestial and idol of my soul, the fairest Ophelia. . . But never doubt that I love” (II.ii.111-115). Ophelia refuses to answer Hamlet's letters, but he nevertheless sends others. However, Hamlet may have only wanted to sleep with her because he says, "You should not have believed me... middle of paper... immersed in anger, hatred, obsession, disgust of self and ultimately murder and death. Hamlet represents a common psychological phenomenon. When individuals come to dislike certain traits in their personality, they look for those qualities in the people around them. Other people's faults are much more visible than one's own. Hamlet finds himself in an almost impossible situation. He ends up taking revenge, but he pays a high price. Not only does he lose his life, but he also becomes the person he swore revenge on. Hamlet and Claudius suffer the same poisonous fate. Everyone dies as much from the poison it contains as from the attacks they suffer. Hamlet realizes his traits but he does not see that the imperfections in him are the same as those of his uncle. Hamlet strives to erase everything Claudius represents, but he fails to see these elements in himself..