Hamlet
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." As Hamlet progresses, Shakespeare reveals the true scope of this rottenness, which extends to almost every character in the play. The all pervasive rottenness present in Elsinore is portrayed by Shakespeare both through the actions of his characters and through the language and imagery used. Rottenness, as referred to by Horatio, refers to moral, social and political corruption. In the context of Hamlet, the word 'rotten' incorporates all of these meaning. The idea that 'something is rotten in the state of Denmark' is first presented in Act I as two issues; the murder of the late King Hamlet and the incestuous marriage of Claudius and Gertrude. In the following acts we learn that 'rotten' also refers to many other issues and characters, a rottenness often graphically portrayed by Shakespeare's use of imagery and themes. As with most of the characters in Hamlet, the word rotten applies to Claudius in many ways. His murder of the late king Hamlet and his subsequent marriage to Gertrude, actions that occur before the play begins, assert Claudius' rotten or evil character. Throughout the rest of the play, Claudius constantly affirms his evil character through his actions, thus
convincing the audience of his immorality. Lying, spying and cross plotting appear second nature to the wily counsellor. It seems that Polonius besmirches everything he touches; he even manages to use the true love of his daughter for personal gain. His plotting with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Claudius are all motivated by his obsession with maintaining his position in court. He is constantly prying, trying to spy into everyone's lives to monitor them, even his son's. This eventually leads to his death. Almost all of the characters in Hamlet and their relationships are rotten. This rottenness stems from the evil deeds of Claudius and is spread across the entire court, effecting even innocents such as Ophelia. Shakespeare presents this insidious, ever-present rottenness through actions, imagery and vocabulary throughout the entire play. It is not until the tragic final scene that Hamlet cleanses the court of its rottenness, curing Denmark of its fatal disease.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1473
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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