In addition to being a murderer and manipulator, Claudius is also a dick. I mean. This is a dick move. Even more accurately, it is a narcissistic move. Insinuating himself into Laertes’ grief for his sister? I mean. It’s so ridiculously about him – and given the current political moment, I can’t help but imagine Claudius as our Toddler in Chief –our Chief Narcissist. Our Egomaniac Elect. This feels like something he would do…watch a man’s heart breaking and insist on his right to commune with him.
