Question

6. Claudius agrees to send Laertes, a young nobleman and son of a trusted advisor, back to France, yet he wants Hamlet to stay put at Elsinore castle and not return to school in Wittenberg. Why, do you suppose, Claudius wants to keep Hamlet close?

Answer 1

Claudius keeps Hamlet close to monitor potential threats to his power and to control Hamlet's actions, as Hamlet is a direct threat to his illegitimate rule.

Step-by-step explanation:

Within Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Claudius chooses to keep Hamlet close at Elsinore castle, ostensibly for familial concern and royal appearance. However, another reading suggests that Claudius, aware of the threat Hamlet poses to his rule after having usurped the throne, seeks to monitor and control Hamlet's actions directly.

Through proximity, Claudius can ensure Hamlet's behavior does not undermine his power or reveal the royal secret of his fratricide. Additionally, keeping Hamlet nearby allows Claudius to manipulate and observe Hamlet's interactions, gauging whether his 'madness' is genuine or a ruse that threatens his own legitimacy.

Claudius wants to keep Hamlet close because he sees him as a potential threat. Hamlet is the son of the former king and Claudius is worried that he may try to seek revenge for his father's death. By keeping Hamlet at Elsinore castle, Claudius can keep a closer eye on him and prevent any possible uprising or rebellion.