Claudius' crimes (fratricide, regicide) plus his usurpation and 'incestuous' marriage mark him as the protagonist of the immorality in the court. Hamlet must engage with Claudius to confront this corruption, and in doing so, he must confront his own perceived inadequacies. Other characters' lack of trust, the presence of the ghost and the concept of revenge are all evidence that something is indeed rotten in the state of Denmark.






