Claudius’ desire to become King of Denmark persuades him to go as far as to kill his own brother. The first person to know of his foul deed is Hamlet, his nephew. During an encounter with his dead father’s ghost, Hamlet mentions that Claudius is king. To this news the ghost responds “O horrible, O horrible, most horrible! / … Let not the royal blood of Denmark be/ a couch for luxury and damnèd incest.” (1.5.87-89) The ghost conveys that Claudius unjustly became king and is manipulating the kingdom of Denmark into believing that he is innocent. Claudius does not stop at just becoming king; he continues to use manipulation as he tries to