characters drive the play characters differ, not the plays
Hamlet claudius
As the antagonist in the play, Hamlet is still the character that has tons of things to discuss even after centuries. Indecision in the character of hamlet keeps him from avenging his father. One reason is that he is bound to his morals and principles. Even though it's his own father that gets killed, he still cannot abandon what he believes is right to do. He wants Claudius to die properly.
Why do we act the way we act? When Hamlet sees Claudius praying, he is nervous because a perfect opportunity to murder Claudius is granted to him. He is about to do it saying "Now might I do it pat", but he retreats because he is afraid that Claudius will go to heaven if he kills him now. Hamlet shifts from determination to indecision. He fears that he will go to hell if he kills a unprotected person like that. In our play, when he is listing other circumstances in which he can murder Claudius, he should be wandering around Claudius, which shows his conflict and indecision.
Claudius, the antagonist in Hamlet, is a villain yet not a typical villain. He murders his own brother and marries the queen. He feels sorry for Polonius' death, and he allows Ophelia to be buried in a Christian graveyard. But his desire for power comes before everything else. He feels insecure about his throne. He conspires three methods to murder Hamlet. Not being the nicest person in the world, Claudius is yet a good king who is good at dealing with people and England.
Why do we act the way we act? In Act 3, Scene 3, which is known as the praying scene, Claudius realizes he cannot faithfully pray for forgiveness because he's still enjoying what he gains out of the crime; he gives up praying after he tries. Claudius is being honest with himself, and his personality is quite sober-minded throughout the play. However, in this scene, after watching the "mouth-trap", Claudius freaks out thinking if his offence is caught by someone. His internal thoughts are exposed to the audience for the first time here when he does the monologue. He feels guilty but he doesn't regret, which is the kind of emotion that we want to grasp when we are acting. We also have a crown as a prop. When Claudius commits his crime and tries to pray, he takes off his crown; in contrast, Claudius puts it back on his head when he says firmly: "My thoughts remain below". This action shows his internal change.