Hamlet returns home from his studies to find that his uncle, Claudius, has killed Hamlet's father, the king of Denmark. Hamlet vows to avenge his father's death by killing Claudius. Although Hamlet is haunted by killing Claudius, his conscience seems to be tormented by the enormity of having committed murder. Claudius's conniving murder of the king and Hamlet's desire for justice make the two characters seem quite dissimilar. Hamlet, the beloved prince, is supposed to kill Claudius, the scheming usurper. Yet, in a certain sense, Hamlet seeks the same path as Claudius. He wants to kill Claudius, just as Claudius killed his father. Doing this, however, would bring Hamlet down to Claudius' level. The lust, manipulation, selfishness, and even doubt that are so clearly seen in Claudius also exist in Hamlet and become evident as he contemplates his revenge. An aspect of the lust displayed by both Claudius and Hamlet is revealed in their pitiful dealings with women. The ghost of Hamlet's father describes Claudius as “. . . that incestuous, adulterated beast, . . . he conquered the will of mine from his shameful lust. . . queen” (Iv42-46). The Ghost is telling Hamlet that Claudius has committed incest and adultery with Gertrude by seducing her. Often in the play Hamlet describes his disgust at the situation: "With such dexterity towards incestuous sheets!" (I.ii.158). Yet Hamlet himself also displays lust and obsession in numerous letters to Ophelia: “To my soul's and heavenly idol, most beautified Ophelia. . . But never doubt that I love” (II.ii.111-115). Ophelia refuses to answer Hamlet's letters, but sends more anyway. However, Hamlet may have only wanted to sleep with her because he says, "You should not have believed me... middle of paper... which degenerates into anger, hatred, obsession, self-loathing, and ultimately murder and death. Hamlet represents a common psychological phenomenon.When individuals come to dislike traits of themselves, they look for those qualities in the people around them.The defects of others are much more visible than their own his revenge, but he pays a high price. Not only does he lose his life, but he also becomes the person he swore to take revenge on. Hamlet and Claudius meet the same poisonous fate. Each dies as much from the internal poison as from the attacks he suffers . Hamlet realizes his characteristics but does not see that the imperfections within himself are the same as his uncle. Hamlet strives to erase everything that Claudius represents, but he cannot see those elements in himself.