Corruption

• In Hamlet an atmosphere of deceit and corruption permeates the play, allowing Shakespeare to highlight the complexity, and undeniable flaws of humanity
• A key message within Hamlet is the ability of supreme power to corrupt one’s morals.

  • Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy to represent the disfiguring of the natural world and of Denmark's court
• Francisco: "I am sick at Heart" ( 1 . 1 )
• Marcellus: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." ( 1 . 4 )
• Denmark has been corrupted by Claudius’ regicide, thus disrupting the Elizabethan Chain of Being.
• Images of ulcers, pleurisy, full body pustules, apoplexy, and madness parallel the sin of the drunkenness, espionage, war, adultery and murder, and reinforce the central idea that Denmark is dying.
• Motif of decay evident in Hamlet’s first soliloquy.

  • “Tis an unweeded garden that grow to seeds, things rank and gross in nature, possess it merely.”
  • Alludes to the corruptive state of Denmark due to Claudius and Gertrude’s incest
• Hamlet explores susceptibility of man to immoral actions

  • “rank corruption, mining within, infects unseen.” ( 3 . 4)
• Claudius understands the infectious nature of his own corruption

  • “forgive me my foul murder.” ( 3 . 3 )
• Corruption is also strongly associated with Hamlet’s perception of women.

  • “Frailty, thy name is women.” ( 1 . 2 )
  • “Get thee to a nunnery.” ( 3 . 1 )
• Claudius embodies the theme of corruption.

  • Anthesis is shown in his first soliliquy
  • “defeated joy” and “mirth in funeral and dirge in marriage” establish Claudius as a deceitful and suspicious character.
• Ghost: “Let no the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest.”
• Hamlet: “For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion.”
• Hamlet: “My wit’s diseased.”
• Claudius: “Infect his ear with pestilent speeches of thy father’s death.”
• Hamlet: “And is’t not to be damned to let this canker of our nature come in further evil?”