As a king, Claudius seems kind and caring in the eyes of the public. For example, when Laertes asks a "favor to return to France" (1.2 53), Claudius allows him to go, and do as he pleases. However, Claudius marries his dead brother's, who also happens to be the king, wife Gertrude after only two months after the king's death! Incest much? As a king to his family, Claudius's first impression is suspicious and greedy. After marrying Gertrude as quickly as he did, it makes me think that Claudius had something to do with the king's death.
Claudius ins't much better as a father figure and an uncle to Hamlet. Although Claudius does tell Hamlet he has "no less nobility of love/Than that which dearest father bears his son/[Does] [he] impact towards [him]" (1.2 114-116), and wants Hamlet to be the number-one member of his court, Claudius tells Hamlet to stop grieving over his father! Claudius asks Hamlet "why should we in our peevish opposition/Take it to heart" (1.2 104-105)? Instead of mourning over the king's death with Hamlet, Claudius wants everyone to forget about it. That seems pretty suspicious to me...
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