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The power of corruption macbeth
Corruption and the ambition of power in macbeth
The power of corruption macbeth
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In general terms, corruption is the act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral principle. In politics, corruption is the misuse of public power and image.Whether it is realized or not, no country is wholly free of the disease of corruption, and if it is allowed to develop and become significantly strong, it can obstruct the good processes of governing and deteriorate the fabric of society. It can become a barrier to continual development and make it so that essentially no room remains for justice to succeed. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the destructive force of corruption is clearly exemplified through the abundance of imagery concerning decay, death, disease, sickness, and infection as the play progresses. The first and foremost example of this corruptionis the murder of King Hamlet and the resulting incestuous marriage of Gertrude and Claudius, which forms the foundation for corruption becoming a regular happening in the state of Denmark.The disease of corruption in the play stems from Claudius and slowly spreads through Elsinore and eventually results in the collapse of Denmark, which is signified by the takeover of the castle and land by Fortinbras, the nemesis of Hamlet and the Norwegian Crown Prince.Through the characters of Polonius, Claudius, Ophelia, and Hamlet, the evolution and disease-like spreading of this corruption can be observed.
Looking towards the beginning of the play, it is obvious that something is amiss in Denmark (this being the sudden death of King Hamlet and Claudius’ ascension to the throne). Even the sentry guards are affected as they voice their feelings about the situation at hand. Francisco's sorrowful declaration that he is "sick at heart" (1.1.9) acts together with Marcellus's state...
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...e for more. Although the presence of this cancer-like corruption may seem inevitable, it can be combated through the use of the virtues of truth, self-control, and, most importantly, love, as demonstrated by the character of Horatio, the only main character survivor at the conclusion of the play.
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Altick, Richard D. "Hamlet and the Odor of Mortality." Shakespeare Quarterly Spring 1954:
167-76. JSTOR.Folger Shakespeare Library.Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
Johnson, Vernon E. Corruption in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2010.
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Moriarity, Rob. "Shakespeare: Hamlet - Corruption Is an Incurable Disease." The London School of Journalism. London School of Journalism, Oct. 2001. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and
Paul Werstine. New York: Washington Square, 1992. Print.
In theater, the playwright may write a genre that will enlighten the audience by teaching them a key moral. In the case of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Shakespeare inspires and encourages the audience to avoid secrecy and deception. Throughout the story, lying leads to evil and tragedy. It is evident from the tension between the word "withhold", which connotes concealment and deception, and the word "share", which connotes openness and honesty, that the characters exemplify the idea that withholding the truth can only lead to suffering, therefore teaching the members of the audience to avoid tragedy in their own lives.
Connections can be made between the deteriorating state of the kingdom, or people, of Denmark, and Claudius’ leadership. There are multiple references made about the decaying strength and reputation of Denmark throughout the play, as the audience can see how the actions of one individual causes a snowballing effect of bad endings throughout the kingdom (and more specifically, for the characters in the play). The new king, Claudius’, poor leadership and rotten nature (which then functions like a poison or disease) brings misfortune to Denmark as a
West, Rebecca. “A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.” Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.
Claudius is responsible for the death of King Hamlet, regardless of this, he wants to portray himself as someone that is worthy of running the nation of Denmark. Claudius connects to the people of Denmark by demonstrating that they are all participating in the grieving of King Hamlet, “Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief” (I.ii.1-3). King Hamlet’s death is very recent, but Claudius places himself as someone that is part of the kingdom that will be mourning the death of King Hamlet. This is demonstrated through irony since instead of mourning he is actually enjoying what King Hamlet has left behind; the nation of Denmark and his wife, Gertrude. Through this, Claudius also demonstrates that he wants others to believe that he has not done anything wrong. In order to convey the image of being healthy, Claudius and his court drink merrily within the castle; making the excesses that the court enjoys apparent. Hamlet is not fond of the drinking but then comes to the conclusion that “His virtues else, be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo, Shall in the general censure take corruption” (I.iv.33-35). Hamlet then foreshadows his own destiny. No matter how good a person may be, that person can become corrupt due to something that has ...
West, Rebecca. “A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.” Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.
A malicious disease, with no cure, that leads to death is called corruption. Each of the characters in Hamlet infected, led astray from their sense of morality, loyalty, and justice. Ultimately finding death as their curse. The seed of the disease sprouted in the biblical misdeed of Claudius, murdering his brother. It spread in his incestuous marriage to Gertrude, and infected even the righteous Hamlet. When he decided to take up the cause of his father's ghost and the necessary vengeance. The survival and success of both Horatio and Fortinbras, both free of corruption, help to highlight how the infection of the disease known as corruption is incurable and must end in death.
Deceit is a major cause of the downfall of Hamlet. This is demonstrated in three instances in the play. First, Polonius spies on Hamlet while he is talking privately with his mother Gertrude. Second, Claudius sends Hamlet away to England. Finally, Laertes and Claudius scheme to kill Hamlet.
Throughout Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the revelation of Claudius’ betrayal of the late King Hamlet becomes the causation of a slippery slope of events that revolve around a revenge on Claudius for his betrayal against the late King. Consequently, this key act of betrayal forms the plays overall theme of revenge while also showing the connection between power and corruption and the idea that ‘”what goes around, comes around.”
In the play hamlet we see hamlet, a man stuck in a deceitful world. The spies, everybody but Hamlet, need deceit and treachery to live, and without it they would perish. Polonius, perhaps the most underhanded member of the play lives and dies while spying, literally. Other characters spy also to better themselves to certain individual to advance their social status. We see Hamlet, the one honest man left in the bunch, spying his one time to save his very own life. The perceptiveness of Hamlet is short-lived as are all actions in this play save the killing. "That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain"(I, v, l.108) This is to be my theme, something that Hamlet discovered and lived by for many a year and scene.
Hamlet as Victim of a Corrupt World Troubled by royal treason, ruthless scheming, and a ghost, Denmark is on the verge of destruction. Directly following King Hamlet's death, the widowed Queen Gertrude remarried Claudius, the King's brother. Prince Hamlet sees the union of his mother and uncle as a "hasty and incestuous" act (Charles Boyce, 232). He then finds out that Claudius is responsible for his father's treacherous murder. His father's ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his death, and Hamlet agrees.
"Corruption is a tree, whose branches are Of an immeasurable length: they spread Ev'rywhere, and the dew that drops from thence Hath infected some chairs and stools of authority" (Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher). Corruption in Shakespeare's play Hamlet has infected Claudius, the brother of the old king Hamlet who kills him out of lust for power. In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, corruption had inevitably led to the downfall of Denmark. Hamlet describes the present state of Denmark as an "unweeded garden" (Act 1 Sc 2, line 135-137) where only nasty weeds grow in it. Hamlet cannot believe that Denmark has now deteriorated and have become such a scandalous place where the new king is like a drunkard and is involved in an incestuous relationship. These nasty weeds have taken over Denmark and have soiled the name of the country.
... of treachery and, luckily, Hamlet realizes the king’s subterfuge, crushing the plot and flipping it back on him. Claudius remains steadfast in his efforts to remove Hamlet, going so far as to set up a false fencing competition and foolishly pushing the poisoned wine without considering the suspiciousness of the action. In his short-sighted and rash decision making, Claudius shows that he allows his inflated sense of regality and self-worth to cloud his judgment.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet indicates “There’s divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will” [5,2,10] given that “the devil hath power”. [2,2,188] These comments demonstrate that power is often in the hands of those who will abuse it and yet, the abuse of that power will not necessarily bring desired rewards. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that fate will treat the abuser kindly, and ‘divinity’ is in control of how the characters ends are shaped. This power abuse is demonstrated both through Claudius’ manipulation of Hamlet, Gertrude and Laertes in order to maintain his authority now that he is King; and, through Hamlet and Claudius’ use of their implicit power over women, which is an entitlement granted to them simply because they
R, Sarah. "Shakespeare's Hamlet - The Personal and Political Corruption of the State." Teenink. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2014. .
West, Rebecca. "A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.