Disease, Decay and Poison in Hamlet

William Shakespe are?s hamlet has been considered the greatest tragedy to make water invariably been written, in which the theme of disease, putrefy and poison is embedded buddy-buddy within the well-known plot of land of the bend. Such theme is unquestion satisfactory through the actions, dialogues and figurative language of the characters. These morbid images that are corporate not scarce help the audience in jealous village?s truthful emotion, hardly also play a remarkable role in characterization, plot using and nonliteral message of the play.

Ideas rough death and physical decline constantly recur in much of the imagery in Hamlet not only in order to pull out the character development and convey Hamlet?s true emotions to the audience, but also to serve as a parableical message on a larger scale. For instance, the imagery of diminution is utilized to help comprehend the depression Hamlet feels in his beginning(a) soliloquy about suicide: ?O that this similarly sullied flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew? (I.ii 129-130), followed by his comparison of the conception to an ?unweeded garden.? This is the first time that Hamlet unleashes his thoughts on the situation and creates a visualization of death. Hamlet thus communicates with the audience putting vehement emphasis on his desire not to exist in this world anymore. An image of Hamlet?s flesh corruption is produced, followed by a picture of a beautiful garden corrupted by disastrous weeds that will smash the good life. At this moment the audience can earn Hamlet?s true emotions as they are able to feel the pain and his yearn for death. Thus, the real imagery about the way Hamlet feels is brought forth. Furthermore, when Laertes comes to the castle to amaze information on his father?s pip, the hysterical Ophelia pretends to give him different flowers that jibe something, but when she comes to the violets, which resembles faithfulness, she says that they puddle altogether withered ?when my father died? (IV.v 182). In this quote, the imagery of decay is present because both her father and the flowers have died. This quote is significant to the play as a satisfying as it is a metaphorical image of corruption and deterrent example decay plaguing not only the characters, but the alone sector of Denmark as well, thus fore seating the eventual collapse of the nation. This metaphor once again appears in the dialogue when Marcellus states: ?Something is rotten in the state of Denmark? (I.iv. 100), thus foreshadowing the corrupt nature of Denmark tether to the breakdown of the royal family. Therefore, Shakespeare?s references to death and decay clear reveal Hamlet?s desperate state of mind, concurrently serving as a political metaphor which implies that the whole state is rotting.

Another significant come about image throughout Hamlet is poison., which plays a significant role in plot development. Poison is also an measurable theme in the play, which is the chief(prenominal) instrument of death. A seminal death image, which brings about the first and most important murder in the play, is the poisoning of emeritus Hamlet, directed deliberately by his uncle as he lies quiescence in his orchard. ?Sleeping within my orchard, my custom always of the afternoon, upon my take prisoner hour thy uncle stole, with juice of cursed hebona in a vial, and in the porches of my ears did pour the leprous distilment, whose effect holds such an enmity with dividing line of man that swift as quicksilver it courses through the vivid gates and alleys of the body?? (I.v. 66-75) The audiences thus run into poison when we see to it about the death of King Hamlet, who was killed by his brother pour poison into his ear. The mention of poison holds a great derive of significance as it is used as a trick that leads Hamlet to contemplate revenge upon Claudius. During the players? reenactment of the crime in the by and by plot, the poison poured into Old Hamlet?s ear reappears. The recurring imagery of poison can be interpreted as a metaphorical message throughout the play as poison is being poured into ears in the form of gossip, suggestions of revenge, slander, evil thoughts that spreads unhealthiness and disease upon the entire court of Denmark. ?Here, thou incestuous, murd?rous, damned Dane, pledge off this potion? Follow my mother (V, 11, 302-304).? Eventually, Hamlet? mom Gertrude is killed by a poisonous drink, which is followed by Hamlet, Claudius, Laertes who are also killed by the poisonous rapier. The use of irony and retributive justice in the play becomes apparent when Claudius uses poison to kill King Hamlet and in the end, the same poison kills him, as well as his wife, Laertes and Hamlet. After all, it is the use of poison that starts the story and unravels the denouement, thus possessing an important role in plot development.

The somber and dark images of ailment and disease are constantly brought up in Hamlet, and shadow the corruption pervading the recent and future events of the castle.



Throughout such images, Shakespeare succeeds in creating an atmosphere of cold and desolated darkness. Early in the first scene, when Francisco and Barnardo are standing watch, Francisco says: ?Tis better cold, and I am sick at heart?? (I.i.8-9). Francisco?s sickness foreshadows the sickness which is entering Denmark. The sickness in Denmark continues when Horatio is contemplating the reasons for the ghost?s appearance. ?Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse?? (I.i.132). Horatio is describing the conditions in Rome just before the murder of Julius Caesar and he believes that the appearance of the Ghost is a portent to Denmark, as the sick moon was a portent to Rome. These quotes are significant because they create an ominous atmosphere for the entire play. In Hamlet?s first soliloquy, he says: ?Things rank and gross in nature, possess it merely?? (I.ii.140-141). Hamlet apparently feels that the whole world is diseased. The sickness motif plays a significant role in the characterization of Hamlet, as it is extended with questions of Hamlet?s mental health as the story progresses. Hamlet?s dialogues tie in sickness and disease throughout the play reflects not only the outward condition which causes Hamlet?s spiritual illness, but also his own state. Indeed, the shock of the discovery of his father?s murder and the sight of his mother?s conduct have had a traumatic effect on Hamlet to the uttermost that when the play opens he has already begun to die internally, as all the springs of life are being gradually infected. Therefore, it is necessary to grade the repetitive use of phrases related to sickness and disease in the dialogues, for it creates an ominous atmosphere throughout the play and further back up in the character development of Hamlet.

In conclusion, the theme of disease, decay and poison is important throughout the play as it is structured with the aim of revealing Hamlet?s state of mind, conveyance political messages, and adding greater significant to the plot development and characterization. Shakespeare successfully achieved his goal through utilizing the dominant theme of the play. As a result, the play has been making a long-lasting impression on the audiences.

Bibliography http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Hamlethttp://www.azete.com/preview/7098www.ibiblio.org/schools/rls/garner/britishlit/hamlet.pdf

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