Hamlet - The Lust For Power Corrupts

"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.

Hamlet in Act 1 Scene 2 claims that Denmark is now filled with acts that are "most rank and gross in nature." He is essentially making a comment criticizing Denmark of “going to the dogs” after the death of old king Hamlet. He observes a great deal of foul play that is occurring in Denmark after his father’s death. The hasty marriage between his mother Gertrude and her husband’s brother Claudius only within two months of old Hamlet’s death bothers the prince deeply. He claims that nothing good will ever come of the incestuous relationship between his mother and uncle. Hamlet in a sense despises her actions because she was so quick to jump into bed with his uncle even before her tears have dried up in her eyes.

“Would have mourned longer!—married with my uncle, my father's brother... Within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. O mo...

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... order to the play after the tragic hero died (Hamlet). It allows the audience to now release their emotions after the tense killings that occurred before Fortibras coming which would serve as a calming feeling at the end of the play as well.

Power corrupts but the lust and need for it destroys the person. For someone such as Claudius who had let the need for power blind him then destroyed both himself and others around him. He did not get to enjoy much of what the kingship had to offer to him because of his constant fear that Hamlet was after him. He instead focused on the well being of himself rather than his people and his wife which did inevitably lead to the downfall of Denmark which is now being ruled by Fortinbras. This could have been avoided in a sense if Claudius was not so corrupt and should have paid attention to the threat that Fortinbras presented.