Imagery in Hamlet

William Shakespeare found that imagery was a useful tool to give his works greater impact and hidden meaning. He used the imagery of death, poison, disease and decay for several purposes. In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses imagery to present ideas about the sort of world the play takes place in, to reveal character, and to suggest themes of the play. The images of death, disease and decay taint the pages of Hamlet, and reveal the corruption hidden in the recent and future events of Denmark. On many occasions, Claudius is referred to as the ‘disease’ or ‘poison’ that has spread throughout Denmark and brought doom upon the whole state. The characters of Hamlet, Claudius and Gertrude are constantly associated with the image of disease and decay to reveal their inner thoughts and feelings. The theme of appearance versus reality and revenge is reoccurring and is often caused or followed by the death by poison of a character.

Most of the images of decay and disease that relate to the atmosphere, are caused by Claudius and his sins. Early in Hamlet, Marcellus says, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (I, iv, 90), to Horatio after Hamlet leaves to talk with his father’s ghost. The imagery of decay used here gives the audience a background understanding of a few things. First, it foreshadows that the state of Denmark is on shaky ground because of his King Hamlet’s murder which young Hamlet will shortly learn of. It also foreshadows the ultimate doom for Denmark, as disease leads to death. “Something rotten” could also refer to Claudius and his sins. Claudius’ sins resemble a contagious disease, infecting the nation, rendering it rotten. Shakespeare uses the image of an unweeded garden to illustrate Hamlet’s view of the world around him; constant chaos. “Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on ’t, ah fie! 'Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this.” (I, ii, 133-137) Hamlet reveals...