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