"There is something rotten in the state of Denmark" To what extent is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, responsible for restoring order in Denmark?

Hamlet was written in 1601, a time when society was changing from the old feudal society, a society where the King held absolute control, affecting everybody and everything beneath him. Throughout Hamlet, the effects a corrupt King has upon his kingdom are portrayed. These changes foreshadow 17th century England and as such, the play is a metaphor for chaos witnessed in countries during times of extraordinary change. Notwithstanding this, the play is equally relevant toward a changing state today, as it was during Shakespearean England. Hamlet is the only constant character who defies decay, degeneration and maintains his integrity until the end. Hamlet, faced by corruption everywhere, enters the play a boy but exits a man.

Hamlet decides his own destiny and is not corrupted, either by Denmark or his corrupt uncle. His resolution is clear from the beginning until his end - to restore order in Denmark. Discovering the truth of his Father 's murder, he commands Horatio and Marcellus to never speak of the sighting, to say nothing about the ghost, and understand that he will:"…to put an antic disposition on…That you know aught of me - this do swear" (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 177 - 185)The trust between Horatio and Hamlet is constant throughout. When alone together, Horatio is the only character to whom Hamlet is his true self and in this, he trusts Horatio completely. Through Horatio the audience hears the real Prince of Denmark ordering both Horatio and Marcellus to 'swear ' on oath six times, symbolising the loss of trust within the state. Such is the anxiety caused by the loss of the old feudal order, gone with the death of the old king.

Hamlet lives with a sense of inherited right, perhaps divine right, to avenge his father and restore order in Denmark and learns that he must grow to make his own decisions.

" O cursed spite, That I was born to set it right." (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 195)Corruption is evident from the outset with Barnardo and Francisco on the battlements, watching for an attack from neighboring Norway. In these first few lines we feel the 'sick ' and corrupt atmosphere in the state.

" Francisco: … 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart."(Act 1, Scene 1, Line 8) 'Bitter ' and 'sick ', symbolise the grotesque corrupt court. Francisco 's reference to his heart portrays the deep internal rot in Denmark. Drawing parallels between the court and heart, the country and body. Shakespeare emphasises the total corruption of the court. If the heart is sick, then the whole body is corrupt.

"Marcellus: There is something is rotten in the state of Denmark." (Act 1, Scene 4, Line 90)The image of rot is developed throughout the play. There is no respect for the dead as uncle and mother celebrate their wedding party, less than two months after the old King 's death. Disrespect is also shown through the gravedigger scene which will be discussed later.

During his first soliloquy Hamlet uses extremes of nature to symbolise the corrupt court.

" 'An unweeded garden that grows to seed, things rank and gross in nature possess it merely." (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 135 - 136)Corruption has allowed 'weeds ' to grow. The court is 'rank ' and 'gross ', King Claudius "possess(es) it merely" and Claudius has no right, divine or otherwise to his kingship.

A feudal King was seen as Gods ' messenger on earth and it is debatable as to whether or not Claudius was God 's messenger. He does not have the 'Divine Right of Kings '. His corruption is highlighted further during Act 3 Scene 3, when he attempts to pray. Claudius realises that his actions had such a big impact on Denmark, not even God can forgive, or help him. Hamlet 's responsibility and his growing maturity is highlighted through this scene. He decides not to kill his uncle and avenge his father, because he believes that if Claudius were praying whilst he kills him, he would go to heaven.

"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go." (Act 3, Scene 3, Line 97 - 98)Claudius 's 'thoughts remain below ', indirectly stating that corruption in Denmark is too great even for God. God can 't save Denmark, because his supposed messenger, Claudius ' thoughts are not powerful enough to reach heaven because he does not have the 'Divine Right of Kings '. This religious scene does not have as much impact on a modern audience as it would have during a religious focused 17th century audience. Later in this scene Hamlet realises that he, as the last heir of a feudal Denmark, has not inherited Kingship, but has inherited the right to restore order in Denmark.

Corruption in Denmark becomes more obvious, rigorous and physical. Here, for the first time an audience can relate to the rot and decay of Denmark, during the gravedigger scene, Act 5 Scene 1. The grave of Yorick, the old King 's jester, is being dug up. The corruption is depicted through black comedy as dark humor over a Noble 's death emphasises Denmark 's corruption.

"A tanner will last you nine year." (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 170)One had to pay money to rest in the ground. A 'tanner ', six pence, would last someone nine years. Throughout this scene Hamlet is amongst rotting bodies, next to open graves, however, Hamlet never indicates discomfort from this. Denmark is so corrupt and 'rotten ' that for Hamlet there is no difference between Denmark and an open grave.

"Hamlet: Why he more than another?…Now hath lien you I ' th ' earth three and twenty years…This same skull sir, was sir, Yorick 's skull, the King 's jester." (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 171 - 183)Yorick 's body had been lying in the earth for twenty-three years before being dug up, considerably longer than a normal person. His body was one of the few remaining of the old Kings feudal order. Rotten when dug up it symbolises the rotten and dead feudal order. This scene contains the most direct passage toward corruption and rot.

Shakespeare could be arguing to a 17th century audience that old feudal ways of England are dead. The time has come for a new bourgeoisie society to seize power. Shakespeare portrays societies concern about the breakdown of order. Often with a breakdown nations have to rely on others to restore order. This is represented through Fortinbras. Sadly parallels can be drawn today in Iraq. Iraq lost almost all order in the country and turned to other nations and organisations, America, Britain, and the UN, to attempt to restore order throughout the country.

As the ghost describes his death, the language portrays the halt in feudal society. The present court is the last feudal society in Denmark. However, King Claudius does not have the 'Divine Right of Kings ', making it impossible for Denmark to maintain feudal status.

"That swift as quicksilver it courses through the natural gates and alleys of the body, and with sudden vigour it doth posset, and curd, like eager droppings into milk" (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 66 - 69)The poisoning was 'swift as quicksilver ' and shows how quickly the court lost order, and became corrupt The court is represented through the body, and 'gates and alleys ' represent the court. The effect of poison on the old King had a sudden impact on the court as 'Curd, like eager droppings into milk. ' 'Eager ' is French for a wine-vinegar. When acid is dropped into milk, the milk curdles. The King 's body curdles and halts, as does the feudal order. Alan Gardiner discusses how the old order halted after Hamlets fathers ' death.

"Another important function of this scene is to suggest the nature of the old order which existed in Denmark when Hamlet 's father was alive, an order which has be superseded by a very different set of values now that Claudius is on the throne." (Gardiner)Gardiner questions as to whether Claudius has the right to change the old order values now the old order is dead? Gardiner believes he doesn 't.

Hamlet is a tragic hero. Although he may not know it, deciding his own destiny saved the state and restored order in Denmark. During the final scene Hamlet completes his journey toward manhood. He restores order in Denmark by telling Horatio that Fortinbras will be the new leader of Denmark. Hamlet also drinks the poison to speed up the destruction of the old feudal order.

"But I do prophesy th ' election lights on Fortinbras. He has my dying voice" (Act 5, Scene 2, Line 357 - 358)Hamlet doesn 't let Horatio drink from the cup because he may want Horatio to keep Fortinbras in order or simply helping a friend. When Hamlet drinks the poisoned wine he destroys the feudal order. Symbolically old Hamlet was poisoned, and Hamlet, the last remaining heir of the feudal order of Denmark, is also poisoned.

Marcus Wischik disagrees that Hamlet restores order and doesn 't become corrupt through avenging his father. He believes that avengers always become corrupt and Hamlet didn 't die to restore order, but because of his own corrupt nature.

"However, the avengers, in doing what they do, become corrupted, and therefore must die at the end of the play." (Wischik, 1998)Nonetheless, by speeding up his death, Hamlet restores order and destroys the old feudal order, the corrupt and hollow court Claudius created.

"He recognises that an age of greatness has been brought to an end, only to be replaced with a pale, and hollow one." (Wischik, 1998)Lawrence Olivier (1948), portrays Hamlet as a weak and suicidal character. During Hamlets third soliloquy, he is a suicidal boy gone mad. However, I would portray Hamlet as a boy who contemplates suicide but never does, someone who ends the play as a man. Not dissimilar to Kenneth Branagh 's (1996), Hamlet who is portrayed as a noble and strong man, who by the end of the play, restores order in Denmark.

"Presenting the play uncut has allowed the characters to reveal even more, and we discover extra details about them which are usually lost on stage. The political situation becomes clearer, and Hamlet is revealed as a knowledgeable man of the theater in his discussion of the boy actors. We can convey a stronger sense of Denmark as a country ill at ease with itself, where there is indeed something rotten and disjointed." (Branagh)Branagh 's film complements the theme of corruption throughout Hamlet, making reference toward the corrupt state of Denmark, constantly showing bare landscapes surrounding the castle.

Throughout the play, with the corruption within Denmark, the falling of the feudal order, Horatio stays alongside Hamlet throughout. Both are the only two characters not corrupted by the rot of Denmark. Through Horatio an audience can hear Hamlet 's story. Horatio is our voice. The corrupt state is responsible for the deaths at the end of the play. Hamlet grows as a character and completes his 'journey into manhood, ' finally drinking from the cup of poison. This final act kills the last member of the feudal court, Hamlet, and destroys the old feudal order. Throughout Hamlet the state is so 'rank ' and 'gross ', that the same ruling family cannot abolish the corruption of Denmark. Outside influence is needed. Hamlet restores order in Denmark by handing the throne to Fortinbras, whom we expect to restore order. Here Hamlet 's journey to manhood is complete. Hamlet is responsible for restoring order within the state of Denmark.

Word Count 1576,BibliographyDanton Downer L, Riding, A (2004). Essential Shakespeare Handbook. London: Penguin.

Griffin Stokes, F (1993). Who 's Who in Shakespeare. Studio Editors LTD.

Shakespeare, W (1601 - 2005). Hamlet . Heinemann Educational Publishers.

Wood, J, L (NA). Hamlet York Advance Notes.

Critical Essays on Hamlet. Longman Literature Guides.

EssaysDickens, C. The Origin Of Hamlet. No Date:Gardiner, A. The State of Denmark. No DateGurr, A. Hamlets Claim to The Crown of Denmark. No DateHazlitt, W. Characters of Shakespeare 's Plays. 1817Taylor Coleridge, S. Lecture on Hamlet. No DateTydeman, W. The Case of The Wicked Uncle. No DateWischik, M. DISCUSS THE ROLE OF MADNESS IN THE DELAY OF REVENGE IN THE SPANISH TRAGEDY AND IN HAMLET. 1999FilmHamlet. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Mel Gibson. DVD. Canal+, 1990.

Hamlet. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Perf. Kenneth Branagh. DVD. Castle Rock Entertainment, 1996.

Hamlet. Dir. Laurence Olivier. Perf. Laurence Olivier. DVD. Two Cities Films, 1948.

WebsitesBerardinelli, J A Film Review by James Berardinelli. from Hamlet (1996) Web site: http://www.reelviews.net/movies/h/hamlet.htmlFree Hamlet Essays Online. from EDU essays Web site: hhttp://www.eduessays.com/search/search.pl?stype=AND&stpos=0&query=hamletKreis, S (2000 ). Lecture 21, Feudalism and the Feudal Relationship. from The History Guide Web site: http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture21b.htmlNA, Hamlet Movie Reviews. from Rotten Tomatoes Web site: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009123-hamlet/NA, (NA). The Feudal Structure of the Medieval World . Web site:http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/hifeudal.htmlWischik, M Renaissance Man. from Renaissance Man Web site: http://www.wischik.com/marcus/essay/index.htmlWischik, M (7/3/98). DISCUSS THE ROLE OF MADNESS IN THE DELAY OF REVENGE IN THE SPANISH TRAGEDY AND IN HAMLET. From Renaissance Man Web site: http://www.wischik.com/marcus/essay/st&h3.html(2001). Britain 's Heritage and History . from Camelot International Web site: http://www.camelotintl.com/village/society.html

Bibliography: anton Downer L, Riding, A (2004). Essential Shakespeare Handbook. London: Penguin. Griffin Stokes, F (1993). Who 's Who in Shakespeare. Studio Editors LTD. Shakespeare, W (1601 - 2005). Hamlet . Heinemann Educational Publishers. Wood, J, L (NA). Hamlet York Advance Notes. Critical Essays on Hamlet. Longman Literature Guides. EssaysDickens, C. The Origin Of Hamlet. No Date:Gardiner, A. The State of Denmark. No DateGurr, A. Hamlets Claim to The Crown of Denmark. No DateHazlitt, W. Characters of Shakespeare 's Plays. 1817Taylor Coleridge, S. Lecture on Hamlet. No DateTydeman, W. The Case of The Wicked Uncle. No DateWischik, M. DISCUSS THE ROLE OF MADNESS IN THE DELAY OF REVENGE IN THE SPANISH TRAGEDY AND IN HAMLET. 1999FilmHamlet. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Mel Gibson. DVD. Canal+, 1990. Hamlet. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Perf. Kenneth Branagh. DVD. Castle Rock Entertainment, 1996. Hamlet. Dir. Laurence Olivier. Perf. Laurence Olivier. DVD. Two Cities Films, 1948. WebsitesBerardinelli, J A Film Review by James Berardinelli. from Hamlet (1996) Web site: http://www.reelviews.net/movies/h/hamlet.htmlFree Hamlet Essays Online. from EDU essays Web site: hhttp://www.eduessays.com/search/search.pl?stype=AND&stpos=0&query=hamletKreis, S (2000 ). Lecture 21, Feudalism and the Feudal Relationship. from The History Guide Web site: http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture21b.htmlNA, Hamlet Movie Reviews. from Rotten Tomatoes Web site: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009123-hamlet/NA, (NA). The Feudal Structure of the Medieval World . Web site:http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/hifeudal.htmlWischik, M Renaissance Man. from Renaissance Man Web site: http://www.wischik.com/marcus/essay/index.htmlWischik, M (7/3/98). DISCUSS THE ROLE OF MADNESS IN THE DELAY OF REVENGE IN THE SPANISH TRAGEDY AND IN HAMLET. From Renaissance Man Web site: http://www.wischik.com/marcus/essay/st&h3.html(2001). Britain 's Heritage and History . from Camelot International Web site: http://www.camelotintl.com/village/society.html