Shakespeare's use of metaphors offers a characterisation as being effortless, naturally unassuming and stunningly appropriate. In Hamlet, the decadence of Denmark, derived from the social disorder of the political hierarchy is rooted in the core of the play. This is brought to bear by the use of the metaphor "unweeded garden" (1. 2. 135), which projects an image of a world in decay and desolation as viewed through the eyes of Hamlet . By the use of the word "weed" it provides powerful connation's creating disdained images that assist audiences to visualise pictorially the decay, death and sickness that has besieged both Denmark and the play, thus creating a scenario of abandonment, failure and desolation. The metaphors purpose in this context …show more content…
The metaphor being voiced by Hamlet, places a perspective of his worldly Denmark as being out of order, in the inappropriate manner that Hamlets uncle had seized the throne as well as his mothers incestuous remarriage. This image of a diseased and rotten Denmark is repetitious throughout the play, noticeably reiterated by the minor character of Marcellus when he expresses "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (1.4.87-91). The use of the term "state" suggests that this rottenness is a stain from the upper echelons of the decadent royalty. Similarly, the use of the term "weed" repeats itself (3.4.7), to highlight the abominable and undesirable actions of his mother which Hamlet abhors, just as equally the weed is a carcinoma to the aesthetic garden, which now has become a Garden of Earthly Delights …show more content…
In this instance, Claudius has personified both the gardener and the weed, were his neglect has caused it to become feral, repugnant and in disarray. Gluttony and ego have bought Denmark to its knees. Claudius now projects an image of being an uncontrollable weed, spreading like a cancer and consuming all within his path and bound with a infectious evilness corrupting previously healthy souls and environment. However, by Hamlet articulating this metaphor it dwells on the idea that Hamlet must now take on the role as the gardener, and must now be duty bound to take action in order to rid Denmark of its scourge, otherwise the inevitable result will be that the plants will die out and the weeds will flourish, leading Denmark into a chasm of corruption and decadence. In contrast, the metaphor may be viewed as being an insight into Hamlets deteriorating state of mind as he is being overwhelmed by a state of depression when enduring the sufferings of life. As the garden furthermore deteriorates, so does his rationale, and thus, leading him onto a path suicidal madness. The realisation of the power of the metaphor now becomes evident as it encompasses the miniature of the tragic narrative, laying the seeds of turmoil and conflict between Hamlet and Claudius, acting as a precursor to Hamlets journey onto a path of revenge to ultimately be rid his uncle as a step towards
The motif of a seemingly healthy exterior concealing inward sickness establishes meaning through foreshadowing and irony by demonstrating that it spreads throughout and ultimately rids itself of everything that conceals inward sickness. Corrupted thoughts throughout William Shakespeare’s Hamlet are based on greediness and the act of avenging a family member’s death.
Time never stops moving forward and neither do the changes that humans make to today’s society, so why should we use Elizabethan references to make the same point that modern points could make. It would be similar to building a house but only using tools available centuries ago, it takes longer and is not as effective as using today’s tools and methods. The allusions used in Hamlet are a great example of references that would have been understood by Elizabethan teens, but if it is going to be read by modern teens the allusions should be revised so the reader understands what the writer is trying to say. That is why updating these allusions would open up Hamlet to a whole new teenage audience.
...ut his lifetime. With all the events occurring, Hamlet goes through so much stress, pain, and suffering from which started with the murder of his father. He has tried to understand his position in life, yet every step he takes, someone always steps in front of him, and it puts him in a worst situation from which he started. A young man like he should be out studying and having fun with his friends, but his two non family related friends betray him, and follow King Claudius' ruling. His mother who he once loves dearly and felt so close to also betrays him by ending her mourn so soon and remarrying to Claudius. Everyone in Denmark has a problem, and the "unweeded" garden is not being kept in good hands, for which bad things have come. The evil in everyone has come out, and Hamlet searched and searched for a reasoning in life, to only come out with one thing, nothing.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1603) is one of the most popular dramas in world literature, as it examines the intensely passionate, but poisonous ambitions of King Claudius. He murders his own brother, King Hamlet, because he desires his throne, power, and wife. As a result of King Claudius’ fratricide, he inherits the “primal eldest curse” of the biblical Cain and Abel, and the dispersion of poison lethally ends his relationship with several major characters. This includes, of course, Prince Hamlet, who falls into a suicidal depression over the death of his father whose ghost visits him. This essay will analyze Shakespeare’s trope of poison, embodied by King Claudius.
Hamlet. The son of a king. A man who could have had it all, but instead he chose the much more painful route of revenge and a life of bloodshed. The downfall of Hamlet is comparable to trying to hide a lie one has told. The deeper we try to cover the lie, the worse it gets and harder it becomes to do the right thing. The deeper the reader explores into Hamlets life, the messier and messier it becomes. With a mind full of suicidal thoughts and insanity with no effort to contain it can only lead one thing, and Hamlets downfall is the ultimate example. Pain, suffering, and extreme
particularly in the Hamlet. In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare uses disease imagery to describe the leadership of Denmark, and how. corruption has infected the kingdom. Similarly, Shakespeare compares how an untreated infection can spread to the ones least expected to be. infected.
'Tis an unweeded garden / That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature”(1.2.135-137). This metaphor used by Hamlet has a few interpretations that can relate to either Gertrude or the entire state of Denmark. “Tis an unweeded garden,”(1.2.135) relates to how the State of Denmark is like the Garden of Eden before it was corrupted. Once a state of purity, Denmark grew into a defiled corrupt nation through the death of King Hamlet and the incestrous marriage of Gertrude. Or on the other hand, Hamlet is speaking about his mother. That once she was like the Virgin Mary, sexually untouched and pure alike the Garden before it was breached. This portrayal shows how atrociously Hamlet views King Claudius. By saying that Gertrude was like the Virgin Mary and The Garden of Eden he insists that King Claudius is Satan or Satanic. This metaphor portrays King Claudius as a Satanic figure that breaches the Garden or his mother and corrupts her with his bed “stewed in
In what way do the techniques used in a prescribed text develop ideas and influence your response as a reader? The revenge tragedy, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare is a tale of murder, secrets and lies where a son is called upon by the ghost of his father to avenge his death. Shakespeare uses a range of techniques in order to influence the readers understanding of Hamlets main themes and ideas. The most effective techniques used within the play are the soliloquies that give depth of both character and story, the powerful displays of imagery used within the play, and the dual understanding that emphasizes the connection between king and country. Through these techniques Shakespeare is able to develop the play in such a way that influences the reader by communicating a deeper meaning and a more complex understanding.
Language Techniques in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Shakespeare used a variety of language techniques throughout Hamlet,
Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is a complex and ambiguous public exploration of key human experiences surrounding the aspects of revenge, betrayal and corruption. The Elizabethan play is focused centrally on the ghost’s reoccurring appearance as a symbol of death and disruption to the chain of being in the state of Denmark. The imagery of death and uncertainty has a direct impact on Hamlet’s state of mind as he struggles to search for the truth on his quest for revenge as he switches between his two incompatible values of his Christian codes of honour and humanist beliefs which come into direct conflict. The deterioration of the diseased state is aligned with his detached relationship with all women as a result of Gertrude’s betrayal to King Hamlet which makes Hamlet question his very existence and the need to restore the natural order of kings. Hamlet has endured the test of time as it still identifies with a modern audience through the dramatized issues concerning every human’s critical self and is a representation of their own experience of the bewildering human condition, as Hamlet struggles to pursuit justice as a result of an unwise desire for revenge.
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the words “Something is rotten in the state
The imagery in the play of Hamlet is composed of disease, poison, and decay this adds to the overall atmosphere of horror and tragedy. First, hamlet uses images of disease to show the state of the country of Denmark and his mother. Second, the imagery of poison is used to describe his father’s death. Lastly, Hamlet describes his feelings toward himself and Claudius and his feelings toward his mother by using images of decay. In Hamlet, as in all literature, imagery adds to reader’s ability to imagine the feeling of the story.
Hamlet is a tale of tragedy by Shakespeare which tells the story of the prince of Denmark who is on a quest to avenge the death of his father at the hands of his uncle whom subsequently becomes king of Denmark. This is what fuels the fire in the play as Hamlet feels the responsibility to avenge his father’s death by his uncle Claudius; however, Claudius assumed the throne following the death of hamlets father. It is in this context that we see the evolution of hamlets character from a student and young prince of Denmark to the protagonist and tragic hero in the play.
Hamlet is still a young man of great intellectual abilities, but whose mind and heart are both clouded by anger and sorrow, resulting in actions that might be viewed as madness. Hamlet’s affliction began even before the contact with his father’s ghost, and was worsened when the truth about Claudius was revealed to him by the apparition of his late father. Hamlet’s actions are not results of insanity but outcomes of the pain he suffers because of the loss and betrayal of loved ones.
Old Hamlet is killed by his brother Claudius. Only two months after her husband’s death a vulnerable Gertrude marries her husband’s brother Claudius. Gertrude’s weakness opens the door for Claudius to take the throne as the king of Denmark. Hamlet is outraged by this, he loses respect for his mother as he feels that she has rejected him and has taken no time to mourn her own husband’s death. One night old Hamlets ghost appears to prince Hamlet and tells him how he was poisoned by his own brother. Up until this point the kingdom of Denmark believed that old Hamlet had died of natural causes. As it was custom, prince Hamlet sought to avenge his father’s death. This leads Hamlet, the main character into a state of internal conflict as he agonises over what action and when to take it as to avenge his father’s death. Shakespeare’s play presents the reader with various forms of conflict which plague his characters. He explores these conflicts through the use of soliloquies, recurring motifs, structure and mirror plotting.