Preview

Evil And Corruption In Hamlet Essay

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
526 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Evil And Corruption In Hamlet Essay
Evil and corruption
“Hamlet”, written by William Shakespeare, is a story about a prince named Hamlet and howhis father is murdered by his uncle. William Shakespeare uses a composition of metaphors to indicate the corruptness of Denmark. In the play, the theme of evil and corruption in Denmark is one of the main themes whichconnects the entire play. The quotation: “something is rotten in the state of Denmark”(1.4.90) by Marcellus indicates that Denmark is corrupted physically and morally by three reasons: incest, distrust and death. Incest is the obvious symbol that begins the moral corruption of Denmark. In the beginning of the play, the marriage of Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius and his mother, Gertrude causes such incest. The unacceptable and immorality of incest which occurs in the king’s family, rots the morals of the Denmark. During the sexual conversation between Laertes and his sister Ophelia, sex desire from Laertes to Ophelia obviously uncovers the incest between them. The events of this incest is not limited to only one family, but several families, which suggests the deep moral corruption in Denmark in the play.
…show more content…
Distrust between people is another idea that rots the morals of Denmark. Ophelia, the woman Hamlet is in love with, becomes a spy on Hamlet later in the play. If even the women he loves will spy on him, then he cannot trust anyone. Under this environment, Denmark will never develop the country but instead, is destroyed by its people. Reynaldo, Polonius’ servant sent by him as a spy on his son Laertes points out the distrust from the father to his son. Although Polonius says that he loves his son, he cannot fully trust his son so he sends a spy to France to check on him. From the above points, distrust is also an important reason for the corruption of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Hamlet, Prince of Denmark has remained the most perplexing, as well as the most popular, of William Shakespeare’s tragedies. Whether considered as literature, philosophy, or drama, its artistic stature is universally admitted. To explain the reasons for its excellence in a few words, however, is a daunting task. Apart from the matchless artistry of its language, the play’s appeal rests in large measure on the character of Hamlet himself. Called upon to avenge his father’s murder, he is compelled to face problems of duty, morality, and ethics that have been human concerns through the ages. The play has tantalized critics with what has become known as the Hamlet mystery, that of Hamlet’s complex behavior, most notably his indecision and his reluctance to act.…

    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    American author, John Steinbeck once said “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.” The theme of corruption is demonstrated in Hamlet by a series of events that lead to devastating decay. The “beginning of the end” is caused by Claudius, the present king of Denmark, Gertrude’s new spouse, and Hamlet’s uncle. Claudius is an intelligent antagonist whose Machiavellian plan of fratricide and his thirst for power drives Shakespeare’s tragedy. His powerful ability to manipulate brings Hamlet to insanity, but also brings short-term peace to the kingdom of Denmark. Critics argue that this trait would not leads to Claudius’ demise if it were not for Hamlet. However, Claudius’ own fear of his corruption being exposed destroys his facade of a capable king and ultimately leads his downfall.…

    • 1304 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Shakespeare explores Hamlet’s struggle to exist in a morally vacuous world where duplicity is so easily masked by authentic appearances. Hamlet’s first soliloquy highlights his disgust for this “weary world” a world he compares to an “unweeded garden”. The metaphor emphasises Hamlet’s sense of entrapment within the court, which has now become rotten and lacks authenticity due to a change in leadership, where Claudius represents the Machiavellian political system of ruling. Hamlet’s father’s death and the hasty marriage between his Mother and Uncle instigates Hamlet’s sense of disillusionment and cynicism, which is made evident in his first soliloquy when he says, “She married. Oh most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets.” The imagery of “incestuous sheets” articulates Hamlets distress of the corruption spreading to his family. Shakespeare poses a confronting idea to his audience and positions us to feel sympathy towards Hamlet, the tragic hero, as he is forced to conceal his own anguish as Claudius criticises Hamlet's…

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    He’s furious with his mother, who decided to remarry in a too hasty, and rejects Ophelia, the woman who previously courted. Often his words express disgust against all womankind. In the work there is a direct confrontation with death, and also the topic of suicide is explored. A further reflection on the character of Hamlet, is the fact that, despite these being the Prince of Denmark, pays little attention to the fate of the state, and look almost all of its problems from a philosophical point of view and personal, without caring much about the threats against Denmark.…

    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Late King Hamlet is a well respected majestic character of Denmark, who also lives in fame; the fame he gets as rewards for his good deeds. The battle with Norway is also one of the greatest victories for the country, and until now, King Hamlet is honored and his chivalrous acts are taken into accounts, “As thou art to thyself, such was the very armor…when ambitious Norway combated…” (I.i.59). Seeing his brother Hamlet having all these fames and respects, and happy moments with lovely Queen Gertrude, and young Hamlet, gives Claudius the wrong impressions that, such good life is resulting from when one can control and feel mightier than others. With envy and lust of power, Claudius murders his own brother when he is asleep, and by making a hasty marriage of the queen, instead of young Hamlet, he becomes the new King of Denmark, the benefactor of the throne.…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    However, Claudius, whom Hamlet calls inherently evil and corrupt, was lurking on the fringes of the family during Hamlet’s reign. Because the disease, Claudius, was not removed prior to Hamlet’s death, Claudius was allowed to succeed Hamlet as king and corrupt the entire state. By assuming power, Claudius’ disease pervades through the whole family and ruins any vestiges of…

    • 60 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Corruption, noun, means dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power. When Hamlet is truly analyzed, along with the characters, you would see corruption is a similar trait going along. One could say corruption is the play itself. To quote William Shakespeare, ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’ (1.4).…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Denmark's failing state is described as a poisoned, corrupted, and diseased under Claudius' rule. This comparison is important because it is as if the poison Claudius put into King Hamlet's ear is making its way through the kingdom. Hamlet is so obsessed with death and decay that he finds comfort in these dark aspects of his life as he has the upmost respect for his deceased father, only professes his love for Ophelia once she dies, and handles Yorick's skull with gentle care.…

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Additional contributions to the state of rottenness in Denmark are the actions of Claudius in the past. Claudius's behavior in general is a reflection of Denmark as a whole. In one of his monologues, Claudius demonstrates his desire to send Hamlet away so he may keep his place on the…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Corruption In Hamlet

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When Marcellus says this he concludes that there is a lot of corruption inside the walls of the leaders of Denmark. Many things in Denmark are pointing to the destruction and decay of denmark and is a common thread of rottenness in the first act…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark". The novel, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare revolves around injustice and how the main character goes on trying to fix this injustice. Shakespeare utilizes literary techniques such as allusion and setting to evoke sympathy for the victims from the audience. This injustice starts to involve more and more people as the story continues.…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet's Abuse Of Power

    • 104 Words
    • 1 Page

    Hamlet does not seem confused by the incomprehensibility of the world, nor does he have trouble making choices or deciding how to act. In fact, Hamlet has a lot of power within the play, as symbolized by his lantern. He lights the scene, then plunges the scene into darkness. His ability to control what viewers see signifies his immense power. He changes and affects people’s lives in ways that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern cannot. For example, he kills Polonius, then disposes of the body. When Hamlet speaks, he frequently confuses other characters with riddles, another sign of his ability to have an effect on people.…

    • 104 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play 'Hamlet ', corruption is conveyed within many of the key characters; Prince Hamlet is not corrupt, but merely fools the people around him into believing that he is, in order to help him carry out his orders. Prince Hamlet learns at the beginning of the play of his father 's murder. He then is ordered by his father ghost to seek revenge on his father 's murderer, Claudius. It is the flaws within the state of Denmark, which have led to the previous kings murder. Hamlet persuades the new king, Claudius, into believing that he is a madman, convincing the people around him as well, in order to take revenge.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Analytical Essay

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare is a tragic story about a prince named Hamlet attempting to get revenge for his father's murder. As Hamlet only to slowly destroy his life in the process. As Hamlet attempts to get revenge, he ultimately ends up destroying himself and the people around him. But before his death, Hamlet slowly decides what he wants to do with his life. Hamlet goes from thinking the world holds nothing for him but not wanting to kill himself because he fears god in the first Soliloquy, to living to avenge his father if needed in the second Soliloquy, to fearing death in the third Soliloquy. Hamlet slowly decides what he wants to do with his life, through his first three Soliloquies in the play…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Analytical Essay

    • 900 Words
    • 6 Pages

    towards the black and white thinking of reality. In the words of John Lennon, “reality…

    • 900 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays