Claudius: King of Contradiction

Throughout Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Claudius, "King of Denmark", is constantly trying to legitimize his heir as king, knowing Hamlet is the rightful heir after the death of his father, who was killed by Claudius himself. In many of his long announcements to the clergy, he consistently contradicts himself trying to make light of the killing of the king. His speech is the obvious signal that in his subconscious he knows he is not fit as the true king, and his long passages give it away.