Parker symbolically identified the conflict between the two kings as a conflict between the "angel-like" character of Old Hamlet and "Moor-ness" of Claudius' nature (128). Associating with Old Hamlet with being an "angel" and Claudius as a "Moor" designates both as individuals having a white' or good and black' or bad personalities, respectively. Focusing primarily on Claudius' black, Moorish character, the author associates him as one who leads over "carnival misrule," an individual who is an ". adulterate Beast' who won the "will" of his most virtuous-seeming queen as a contrasting devil" (129, 149).

             The angel-Moor characterizations assigned to Old Hamlet and Claudius (respectively) were evidently more than mere depictions of the goodness-versus-evil theme. Parker's association of blackness to that of Claudius' Moorish character (which, in her analysis, was equated with deviltry) highlighted how blackness surrounded not only Claudius, but people associated with him. His blackness,' according to Parker, "besmeared" the purity of Queen Gertrude as his wife and the kingdom that he eventually ruled. Thus, associated with Claudius' blackness meant the pervasiveness not only of impurity and malice, but most particularly, treachery, which dominated the lives of Hamlet and Claudius throughout the play.

             As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, Gertrude had also been "besmeared" by Claudius' Moorishâ€"malicious and treacherousâ€"character. Parker equated Gertrude's blackness with Hamlet's consideration of his mother as an impure' woman, having associated herself with Claudius immediately after Old Hamlet's death (130-1).