imagery in hamlet
...g revenge will reduce him and make him unfit for rule by his own standards, and taking revenge will do the same. Though Hamlet retains our sympathy at the end of the play, he has murdered five people and caused the suicide of one. But Hamlet can still decide Denmark's future, by effectively appointing a successor. Thus, the corruption dies with him; all the inevitable justice is carried out; and Hamlet's legacy remains. From a morally dubious situation, Hamlet is able to wrest an honourable death, and the chance of stability for the future of his country. From the fates of Polonius, Claudius and Hamlet we see that corruption originating from 'disease' leads to death. Hamlet and Polonius' emotions clouded their judgement and led them to their death. Furthermore we see that those who killed others in the play were motivated by the stagnant disease that infected their minds and bodies. Hamlet, for example, was overcome by the disease and unintentionally killed Polonius, mistaking him for Claudius. Killing another character was clearly not the correct path to solving problems; there was no clear judgement behind rash behaviour that included secrecy, lies, deceit, and murder. Corruption such as this could only lead to death. As an aside, we can note that Fortinbras was an intelligent young man who made his mark through the play quietly and honourably because he was a character whose mind was never infected with the 'disease'. A stagnant disease, with no cure, that inevitably leads to death: corruption In the play ‘Hamlet’ by Shakespeare, the integrity of some characters are all challenged with honesty and deceit. The King of Denmark is deteriorating and rotting the state and its people. Many images of corruption, spying, and decay compound as the play moves on, because Claudius is trying to find out what his nephew, Hamlet, is planning. A description of some of the points of defilement in detail and what they mean follows. As the scene opens, there is a party, and a party-pooper. The party is somewhat of a classy type, where all the people are dressed in fancy dresses and nice suits and one person in black. That person is Hamlet. Claudius, the late kings’ brother, is marrying his widow, Gertrude, less than 2 months of his brother’s death. This is a sign of corruption. Claudius tries to make it seem like nothing big has happened. He describes that he is sad, everyone should be sad, but it is best to think of the dead king with “wisest sorrow”. That is, life goes on and doesn’t stop for a single person’s death. Claudius also adds “With mirth (gladness) in funeral and dirge (grief) in marriage”. This is one of many paradoxes in this paradoxical play, but the king doesn’t mean it as a paradox. The second sign of decay is that Hamlet wants to avenge is fathers death, and bring justice to the murderer. Marcallus, Horatio, and Barnardo notify Hamlet of a ghost that appears before them, one who looks like King Hamlet. Horatio adds that the appearance of the Ghost reminds him of what he has read in portents in Rome, just before the assassination of Julius Caesar, when “The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead / Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets.” Hamlet listens to his loyal friends, and decides to see what this is about. The ghost speaks to Hamlet, and tells him he is “thy father’s spirit,” and must soon return to the prison of purgatory and its flames. Ghost: “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder… “Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange and unnatural… “A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but you know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.” Hamlet: “O my prophetic soul! My uncle!” Yes indeed Claudius killed Hamlets father. This is a great sign of corruption. Hamlet must have revenge on Claudius and avenge is fathers ‘most unnatural murder’. Claudius becomes suspicious of Hamlet and sends for Rosentcrantz and Guildenstern. He immediately greets them and gets down to business right away. He wants to find out why Hamlet is acting weird, and needs to be assured that it is only because of his fathers passing away. Claudius: “Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern! Moreover that we much did long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it, Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was. What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from the understanding of himself, I cannot dream of: I entreat you both, That, being of so young days brought up with him, And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and havior, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time: so by your companies To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, So much as from occasion you may glean, Whether aught, to us unk...