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Theme Of Decay In Hamlet

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“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.5.100). The entirety of William Shakespeare 's play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, could very well be explained through the rottenness of the court. Denmark and the people decay from the inside out. The decay is caused by poison. King Claudius initiated the use of poison which evidently led to Denmark 's demise. Hamlet, being the prince of Denmark feels as though it is his duty to find what caused the decay. The ghost of his father comes to him with a message about his death, “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown” (1. 5. 46-47). Relaying this information to Hamlet created more decay throughout the court because King Claudius killed Hamlet 's father. …show more content…

Being Hamlet 's girlfriend, Ophelia was on the receiving end of most of his deluded hatred after she was told to spy on him by her father and the king, “I shall obey my lord” (1.3.145). Ophelia had no choice but to do what she was told considering it was an order from the king. But believing that Hamlet loved her, Ophelia thought she was doing what was best for him. Hamlet chooses to retaliate by calling Ophelia a whore, “Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (3.1.121-122). Adding to Ophelia 's decay, there is the question of if Ophelia is still a virgin, beginning Ophelia 's downfall. If she did lose her virginity, there is the possibility of it adding to her decay because now Hamlet is using it against her.The decay within Ophelia reaches its peak when Hamlet kills her father mistaking him for the king behind the arras, “How now! A rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!” (3.4.24). The readers could wonder if Hamlet knew all along who was behind the curtain and choose to kill him anyway to get his own type of justice against Ophelia. With these turn of events, Ophelia becomes crazy and not being able to bear her father 's death takes her own life.Ophelia 's own type of decay begins to seep its way …show more content…

Learning about the death of his father,”Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father,” (4.5.153-154), Laertes returns home for revenge against Hamlet. Laertes being away at school and still being affected by the corruption and decay throughout Denmark shows how far it has spread. In order to get his revenge, Laertes storms the castle by force, making the people of Denmark see that they need a take action king. The death of Ophelia spreads the decay more.There is not much the priest can do about where Ophelia is buried but Laertes does not believe that sister 's memory deserves that, “And from her fair and unpolluted flesh may violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,” (5.1.249.250). Laertes could be the exact opposite of Hamlet in regards to their revenge. Hamlet, not being happy with just killing the king wants him to go to hell but doesn’t want to go to hell himself. Laertes doesn’t care about his fate as long as he gets his revenge. King Claudius provokes Laertes into challenging Hamlet to a duel that will insure his death, “ A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, if he by chance escape your venom’d stuck, our purpose may hold there” (4.7.160-162). The decay reaches its peak when the court of

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He loses both his sister AND his father to Hamlet’s rampage which expectedly infuriates him. “And so I have a father lost; and a sister driven to desperate terms… but my revenge will come.”. Laertes comes home to the destruction of his family and immediately begins plotting with Claudius to kill Hamlet. The revenge ended up backfiring and killing everyone except Horatio, thus proving that they should have left justice to a more cautious and lawful

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Name: Jessica Instructor: Miss. Sully The analyze of rot and decay in Hamlet William Shakespeare 's Hamlet has been considered the greatest tragedy in literature and drama. With a focus on the third of five acts in Hamlet, Shakespeare develops the theme of both physical and psychological decay and corruption through the actions, dialogues, and figurative language of the characters. As we read about Hamlet, the background and atmosphere which the author William Shakespeare wanted to express was rot and decay of the whole country.

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It is in human nature to act on our fatal flaws during our lifetime. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Claudius, the King of Denmark and brother of the late King Hamlet allows his fatal flaw to take over his life. Claudius becomes king after his brother King Hamlet dies and just a few months after his death marries his brother's wife. Hamlet the son of the late king of Denmark witnesses the ghost of his father who tells him the horrible truth of his death and commands his son to avenge him. Witnessing the ghosts words come to life, Hamlet turns down the road of revenge as he plans to kill his uncle.

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Laertes believes Hamlet is to blame not only for his father’s death, but also for Ophelia’s death because the death of her father is ultimately what drove her to killing herself. Once Laertes returns, he asks King Claudius who is responsible for the death of his father and is informed that Hamlet is the one to blame. Ophelia enters and reveals to everyone that she has gone crazy and ends up killing herself. Hamlet returns to Denmark and is surprised to find out that Ophelia has died. Laertes and Hamlet start fighting at her burial service and Hamlet says he wants to be

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Hamlet knows he is quick-tempered and dangerous, but takes it a step further by warning them that he is upset over Ophelia dying and will take his anger out on them. Hamlet knew his own inner evils, and distanced himself from her due to

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When Ophelia returns all his letters and gifts he tells her that he has never loved her and that she should “get thyself to a nunnery.” This is one example how his mood changes throughout the play. Then after all this her father, Polinous, is murdered by Hamlet. The Hamlet is sent away to England All of these actions result in her feeling such stress that she becomes insane in the end.

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Ophelia goes mad throughout the story. She is overwhelmed by the loss of her father and the rejection of Hamlet. Her character is seen spiraling down a dark path that also ends in death. Ophelia is depicted as not having control over her actions; speaking and acting erratically. While Hamlet is speaking erratically and behaving oddly, he still maintains control over his actions and movement throughout the story.

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This is where we first see Ophelia deteriorating a person. The next thing that drove her off a cliff was her father being murdered. Claudius said “O, this is the poison of deep grief;

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Hamlet has not only become distraught from his conniving and lying stepfather but also his mother, Queen Gertrude as well. The unfaithfulness that Gertrude shows to Hamlet’s father and Hamlet has a toll on him and plays a part in his insanity. The facade that Hamlet displays slowly leads to his insanity, causing him to show mistreated love towards Ophelia. In the beginning of the play, Ophelia displays a very honest

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During Ophelia’s funeral, the drama between Hamlet and Laertes magnifies which causes more hate between their families. Laertes provokes Hamlet into fighting him by Ophelia’s grave, with their families there to witness, by saying “[t]he devil take thy soul” (V, i, 243). Following this mishap, Laertes is informed by Claudius of a strategy to end Hamlet’s life in the near future. This immoral conflict being conducted in a place that already is commemorating death displays that they are inclined to cause more people to die. This plot to kill Hamlet is not beneficial to Hamlet’s success and only weakens his personal plot to kill Claudius.

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Hamlet once again fails to understand that Ophelia much like himself is only trying to stay loyal to her father, much like what he is doing himself. In addition, Hamlet blames woman for giving birth to such evil and deceiving men like Claudius and himself. When he was talking to Ophelia he told her "Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better

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Ophelia is grieving the loss of her father after Hamlet kills him. Ophelia doesn't know that Hamlet killed her father. But Ophelia has gone mad from learning about her father's death. Also, after Hamlet telling Ophelia that she needs to go to a nunnery, Ophelia is a little bit discouraged. She is discouraged because Hamlet had told her before that if Ophelia would sleep with him that they would get married.

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The ghost of Old Hamlet fuels “Hamlet” as gasoline fuels a car. The importance of the death of Old Hamlet appears evident, for it receives recognition in the first scene of “Hamlet.” The Ghost also appears in the first scene, but his actions remain limited throughout the play. Even though he owns a limited role, the Ghost makes a major impact on “Hamlet” through several ways. Furthermore, without the Ghost, no action would take place in the play.

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Revenge is a major part of life, even with minor things people like to get major revenge, and the same can be said for major things also. While revenge is a huge thing it can lead to bad results. Revenge is a major theme in William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, revenge is seen through Hamlet’s revenge for his father, Laertes’ revenge for his father, and Fortinbras’ revenge on Denmark for Norway. Hamlet’s revenge is the main part of the play, after his uncle killed his father and married Hamlet’s mom Hamlet wanted to get revenge. However due to Hamlet not being able to do it fast, his revenge tends to drag on leading to many other people getting affected by it, namely Polonius.

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These continuous deaths heighten the tension, as the suspense and mystery revolving around who would die next, magnifies the sense of anticipation in the audience. These deaths occur gradually, with King Hamlet being the first, as he had died before the play even started. This is followed by Polonius’ death by Hamlet in Act 3, Scene 4. As a result of her father’s death, Ophelia had reached a mental decline and resorted to committing suicide by drowning herself in Act 4, Scene 7. The climax of the play is in the final act which is Act 5, Scene 2; where multiple characters such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Gertrude, Claudius, Laertes and Hamlet have reached their untimely deaths.

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