Choices. Humans have always been presented with choices. Whether they are choices one must make within themselves that will affect only themselves, or choices that extend beyond the sphere of one person and into the lives of others. No matter what both sides maintain an insatiable pull on the individual caught in the middle. This holds true in the life of “King” Claudius. A man who rose to the position of power by killing his own flesh and blood. Forcing him to choose between what was right for himself and what was right for the rest of the court. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the choices that one makes affect the lives around those who surround that individual. In Claudius, his struggle was within himself but what he chose adversely affected the people of his court. One side of him told him to confess to Hamlet his sins and the other side told him not to do so because he would lose everything he “worked hard” for. His wife and his power. But as Hamlet got closer and closer to the truth, Claudius became more and more uncomfortable within himself. He says, “O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven. Pray can I not though inclination be as sharp as will, My stronger guilt defeats my stronger intent.” Claudius at first was torn after the play Hamlet presented but as he continued in his monologue, his guilt outweighed his intent to do the right thing. Telling the truth would cause him to lose everything. Everything that he has gained meant much more to him than the forgiveness of Hamlet. Claudius says to himself, “My crown, mine own ambition and my queen. May one be pardon’d and retain the offence?” By saying this Claudius has made a choice he is not going to tell Hamlet the truth. The King has everything that he has ever wanted and does not see a reason to lose it all. Claudius’ conflict presents Shakespeare’s work in a different light. From the King’s point of view, it shows the work as a warning. Selfishn