Point of View

The point of view of this novel is first person from Claudius' point of view. The story is told in the past tense, after Claudius' death. This makes the narrator appear omniscient since he is aware of later facts that serve to enhance the story as he tells it; however, the point of view is limited since he is not fully aware of the thoughts of all characters but only what he later learns. This is important in foreshadowing the events of the story and in demonstrating the narrator's innocence, naiveté and good intentions. The point of view serves to justify Claudius' actions since it enables him to show that even his most evil acts were done either with good intentions or through the misguidance of another, usually Messalina.

Exposition mostly pervades the story as Claudius explains his actions as emperor and attempts to justify his...