Alan Bates Claudius wants to get rid of Hamlet purely because Hamlet reminds him of the deed that he did to his own brother. Gertrude and Claudius seem to have been in on the murder together since they frequently exchange worried glances with eachother. During the mouse trap scene (video below), Claudius becomes visibly ill as he realizes what the scene is about. His repenting scene is heart-felt and makes Claudius seem to really regret what he has done.