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Motif Of Gardens In Hamlet

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Throughout the first act of Hamlet, Shakespeare applies the motif of gardens and greenery to convey Hamlet’s dismal outlook of life after his uncle Claudius replaces the freshly deceased King Hamlet. In light of this pivotal change, Hamlet likens the world to “an unweeded garden, / that grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature” (1:2, 135-136). This reoccurring metaphor illustrates how the prevailing Great Chain of Being is thrown into disarray after the death of King Hamlet; the once kept and peaceful garden – a representation of the world - has grown repugnant and “rankly abused” (1:5, 38). The motif of gardens is featured again in act 1 scene 5, when the ghost of King Hamlet reveals that he was murdered by Claudius in the very garden
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