What is the role of symbolism in Hamlet?
Hamlet is a tragic drama piece written by William Shakespeare during the Jacobean era. The gloomy and melancholic preference of King James VI of the time sets the dark tone of this play. Hamlet is the longest and one of the most potent plays of Shakespeare. Also, throughout the years it has influenced many other works of art, such as “The Lion King”. The play is set in Denmark and takes place in the royal palace where Prince Hamlet sees the ghost of his dead father instructing him to revenge his murder made by his uncle Claudius, now the new husband of his mother, Gertrude, and the ruler of the throne of Denmark. Denmark is also in a feud with Norway and an invasion by Young Fortinbras is expected. At the same time, Hamlet is thought to be going insane. He is also in love with Ophelia, daughter of Polonius or the Lord of Chamberlain. Symbols have a significant role in this play in the sense
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She gives certain types of flowers to certain people which shows that each individual carries a different meaning for her. First, she gives a rosemary to Laertes, which symbolizes remembrance. She gives pansies to Laertes, which represents thoughts of love. Although she gives both to Laertes, Ophelia most likely has Hamlet in her mind when she says, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you, love, remember; and there is pansies, that’s for thoughts” (Lines 173-175). To Claudius she gives flowers that represent flattery and no faith in marriage. They were both given to Claudius because of his incestuous marriage and betrayal. Ophelia gives daisies to both King Claudius and Queen Gertrude representing deceit and lies, because they both betrayed King Hamlet, lied to the public. Horatio receives violets which represent faith. Horatio is the only person Hamlet still trusts and has faith in as well as Ophelia