Claudius murdered King Hamlet by pouring poison into his ear while he slept in the garden. This act of treachery is revealed in Act 1, Scene 5, when the ghost of King Hamlet explains to his son, Prince Hamlet, the details of his untimely death. Claudius’s motivation for this heinous act was to seize the throne of Denmark and marry Gertrude, King Hamlet’s widow.
This method of murder is particularly insidious, as it reflects Claudius’s manipulation and deceit. The poison, a metaphor for his corrupt nature, not only symbolizes the physical act of killing but also the moral decay within the royal family. Claudius’s actions set off a chain of events leading to tragedy and chaos throughout the play, highlighting themes of ambition, betrayal, and the quest for power.