Preview

Hamlet-Nature

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
935 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hamlet-Nature
Hamlet Argumentative Essay
Imagery isn't a figure of speech nor does it involve the physical senses. Imagery is created to evoke a mental picture of the scenes throughout literature. Throughout the prominent play Hamlet, Shakespeare displays many underlying themes by way of imagery. In this piece of literature, Shakespeare writes about death, decay, and disease and how it affects Denmark and the people in it.
In the beginning scene, Horatio makes a stimulating statement: “As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, Disasters in the sun; and the moist star upon whore influence Neptune’s empire strands was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse” (1.1.117-120). He compares the ghost of Hamlet as a probable sign of disaster or a catastrophe in Denmark; which is similar to what has happened before in the death of the great Julius Caesar. Even from the start of the play, the small country of Denmark was already contaminated with disease that would eventually stay over the development of the play.
The first sign of death we see is the death of Hamlet’s father. Preceding the death of his father, Hamlet’s mental state begins to tumble. He first appears to lack an abundant amount of courage, his focus remains on avenging his father whose murder is described as being "most foul" (1.5.27). Hamlet delays the revenge of his father’s death greatly until the act five where he is responsible for the murder of Claudius. "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (1.4.99) What does this statement mean? At the end of Scene four, a guard, Marcellus, says these famous words to Horatio. After Hamlet follows the ghost, Marcellus and Horatio know they have to follow as well, because Hamlet is acting so impulsively. Marcellus's words are remarking on how something evil and vile is afoot. This moment could be interpreted as foreshadowing of the impending deaths of most of the principle characters. Hamlet depressingly proclaims that his life is "An unweeded garden that grows

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Quotations Act 1

    • 378 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Horatio is speaking to Marcellus; Horatio is referring to the ghost of Hamlet Sr. that they have just witnessed.…

    • 378 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within the passage from Hamlet, Shakespeare uses diction, Imagery and metaphors in order to gravely convey the Ghost and Hamlet’s contempt for Claudius and the Queen.…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The theme of death is introduced almost immediately in Hamlet when several characters detect the ghost of King Hamlet. The spotting of the ghost and the subsequent dialogue between Hamlet and the ghost set in motion the deteriorating fate of Hamlet and many other characters who meet the same tragic end as the ghost. More importantly, the cause of death of every character in Hamlet can be traced back to some previous death. For example, Polonius’s death, which is due to Hamlet’s irrational action, causes Ophelia’s madness and ensuing suicide. Ophelia’s death prompts Laertes and Claudius to scheme against Hamlet. When their scheme went awry, all major characters except Horatio died at the end of the play.…

    • 1107 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better 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

    In every piece of literary work their are certain devices that the author uses to emphasize the theme and help make their point. One commonly used device is imagery which is word pictures used by a writer to illustrate, illuminate, or embellish their thought. Throughout Macbeth William Shakespeare uses the imagery of blood to illustrate how the want for power can make people do things that they would normally never think about doing.…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Corruption In Hamlet

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages

    "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (1.4.90), says Marcellus after he has seen Hamlet follow the Ghost into the dark.…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hamlet Study Guide

    • 3411 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Act I Scene 1 : Horatio’s fear about the Ghost is “something to worry about”, he talked about the emperor Julius Caesar, and how the corpses rose out of their graves and ran through the streets. There were threatening signs and now Horatio believes that the ghost of Hamlet was sent down here as if heaven and earth has joined together to warn them what is going to happen.…

    • 3411 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Death Analysis

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout Hamlet, William Shakespeare’s eloquence and use of thematic imagery helps convey Hamlet’s state of mind as troubled and ambiguous, establishing him as a tragic hero whose feelings of death are nothing short of an enigma. From the opening scene with the ominous apparition to the brutality of the final scene, death is seemingly portrayed further than that of its simplistic physical nature. Hamlet’s thought provoking and introspective nature causes him to analyze death on different levels, ways that are much more profound. Hamlet’s acceptance of death is gradual but very much evident in the play, as his idle nature transitions to one of cowardice and eventually determination and resolve. As the reader is introduced to Hamlet,…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Mental Imagery

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the seventh edition glossary of literary terms from Ohio University written by M.H. Abrams, the term ‘imagery’ is claimed as ‘mental pictures’. Cecil Day-Lewis agrees with this statement in his book, Poetic Image, that an image, “is a picture made out of words” (Lewis 17-18). In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, there are many demonstrations of imagery used that gives readers a mental picture of what is going on in the play. Imagery gives literature life and emotion; it makes the reader feel as if he/she is actually watching the play live right in front of their eyes. Throughout the play Macbeth, imagery such as clothing, blood/murder and lightness and darkness are emphasized. Throughout William Shakespeare’s play, the imagery used reveals…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Hamlet Metaphor

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Iterative use of vivid and detailed imagery in a piece of literature is often a way of expressing a theme or concept in a literary work. This is the case in William Shakespeare"'"s Hamlet, a revenge tragedy that continually depicts the vibrant metaphors of manifesting corruption and festering disease in order to auger the impending calamities in the state of Denmark. Throughout Shakespeare"'"s play, there are successive images of deterioration, decay and death. These images are skilfully accomplished through the use of metaphors of rotting and dead gardens. Shakespeare wonderfully creates these metaphors that add great dimension to the play of Hamlet.…

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Use Of Imagery In Macbeth

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In 16th century literature, primarily plays, it is common practice for authors to employ various forms of imagery in order to draw more emotion from the reader or audience. William Shakespeare, a literary master, makes heavy use of imagery in most of his works. Macbeth, one of his most famous plays, is no exception to this. Macbeth implements numerous examples of imagery and symbolism in order to strengthen the theme and add depth to the underlying subtext within the play.…

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet - Ghost

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages

    illuminates on the mystery surrounding the death of Hamlet’s father, the King of Denmark. Often in literature the presence of a ghost indicates something left unresolved. In this case, the death of Hamlets father is the unresolved event as well the revenge necessary to give the tormented soul repose. The ghost created mystery for the audience, spawns the chain of death and treachery in Denmark, causes characters to question the death of their former king, and…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlets Grief

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Clearly this shows Hamlet grieving his father's death while showing hostility to the king and queen for being so deathly cold about the previous king's death. Also the readers can also see in Hamlet's opening dialogue, it shows that he still has not come to terms with his father's death and is still in the state of shock when we first see him.…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gilgamesh Theme

    • 1801 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In each work, death creates change in the storyline and for the main characters. With this change, however, comes newfound strength for the main character. In Hamlet, prince Hamlet is changed forever after the death of his father and the visit with his father's ghost. He mourns the loss of his father as his mother remarries and Hamlet finds the ordeal to be troubling and devastating. Hamlet the Elder warns his son that he was murdered by Claudius and Queen Gertrude. Although stunned at first, young Hamlet faces his mother, angry and betrayed, and fights the new king and even his mother with new found determination. He finds strength in his father's words and is motivated to seek revenge. Hamlet's anger can be seen in this quote, taken from Act I, Scene II, "O God, God, how weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable, seem to me all the uses of this world! (298)." Here Hamlet is remembering the loss of his father and is overwhelmed with grief. Later in the play, Hamlet is filled with rage and speaks alone with his mother. When the Queen fears for her life, she calls out for help, alerting the hidden Polonius. In a fit of anger, Hamlet kills Polonius. When his mother comments on the bloody slaying of Polonius, Hamlet replies sarcastically saying, "A bloody deed- almost as bad as kill a king and marry with his brother" (298). It…

    • 1801 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet’s focus on corruption and its subsequent impact on individuals and society is raised in Claudius’ usurping of the throne. Contextualised in a period linked with the Great Chain of Being, Hamlet see’s Claudius’ murder of the old king and consequent crowning as king, “the serpent that did sting my father’s life/now wears his crown” as a transgression of the natural order. This corruption of the throne quickly transmits to the rest of Denmark, the appearance of the ghost, “bodes a…

    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays