Hamlet and humanismWilliam Shakespeare, Hamlet, demonstrates that human nature is greedy, selfish and ruthless. Claudio is determined by his greed to commit murder. Polonius is always looking out for himself, not caring about the expense of anyone who gets in his way. Hamlet only reflects on retaliation from the moment he discovers that Claudius killed his father. Human nature has been many things over time, but it has also changed over the years. People can be immoral and cruel, but they can also show great empathy and kindness. Scholars of Renaissance humanism recognize that "Hamlet contains a vital critique of humanism" (Renaissance) throughout the play. The author, William Shakespeare, belonged to a period of the Elizabethan age that "coincided with the culminating period of humanistic literary expression" (Renaissance). The environment that Shakespeare lived in at that time helps shape his opinions and thoughts on the politics that were happening around him. Shakespeare took from his human responses and interactions and wove them into Hamlet. Claudius "is the most modern character" who "has no reservations" (Hamlet, Tragedy) when he kills his brother so that he can get the crown and queen. He removes a great and honorable king to please his greed. He takes away his brother, the good of the country and the pleasure of many to satisfy his own ambition. Claudio only cares about himself. Whether they realize it or not, most people will, at some point, be motivated by gluttony. Most, however, will not have the willpower and anxiety displayed by Claudio. This is partly due to the changing times. In the historical period in which Shakespeare wrote the play, killing was profoundly... middle of paper... Cairo Press, 2004. pp. 93-120. February 20, 2009.Kreis, Steven. “Renaissance humanism”. 07 November 2008. The Guide to History: Lessons in Modern European Intellectual History. . April 20, 2009.Levin, Harry. "General introduction". The bank of the Shakespeare River. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.Shakespeare, William. "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark." The bank of the Shakespeare River. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. Walley, Harold R. “Shakespeare's Conception of Hamlet.” PMLA, 48.3. Modern Language Association, 1933, pp. 777-798. February 19, 2009."Renaissance humanism." Shakespearean criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. vol. 101. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Literature Resource Center. Network. 21 April 2014. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com.lscsproxy2.lonestar.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1410001783&v=2.1&u=nhmccd_main&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=e5e947871b917bcc258bc6e4cb017 f43