As the story progresses, the simple use of poison is portrayed as a symbol that allows the reader to understand the bitter relationships. The word deceit and the adjective of being dishonest can be related to Claudius. He is “attracted” to a snake which happens to be venomous which shows he is likened to his own kind. Poison also symbolizes death due to the fact that it is used in plans to kill different characters. As one sees poison being an actual and physical object, others see that it is used as a symbolic figure. Throughout the story, this weapon is also used symbolically to represent one’s betrayal and corruption which could ultimately lead to a downfall in their life. Shakespeare’s masterpieces use poison and potions to represent deceit and death as an obvious outcome from poison. The work is able to not only represent …show more content…
Hamlet, being the protagonist in the story, used plotted against by many characters. Laertes, a minor yet significant character, poisoned a sword and killed Hamlet with it. This shows that Shakespeare is able to use poison as a physical venomous object other than as a symbol of the story. Later on, King Hamlet died on the actin of Claudius poisoning his ear. This is more elaborated as he states Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole/With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial/And in the porches of my ears did pour. (Shakespeare 90) This happens to be iron due to the fact that in the ear you are able to listen to things, which shows that King Hamlet eavesdrops to corrupt and insignificant ideas. Being that Hamlet is poisoned in the ear by his own cousin, Claudius furthermore expresses the idea as poison aiding in betrayal and corruption.
Listening and observing come naturally to most of us. Most people don’t think well to confirm something I heard I must see it or vise versa. That is the problem characters in Hamlet run into when trying reason out the issues they have. The ear and eye motif in Hamlet by William Shakespeare make up a prominent part in the play. Hamlet suggests that the information received by the ear or eye alone can lead to unwanted outcomes (Anderson). The simultaneous use of the ear and the eye must exist for the success of reason because alone they don't provide sufficient information for Hamlet, Gertrude and the people of Denmark.
It is too late though, the poisonous sword had cut Hamlet. In anger, Hamlet steals the poisoned sword and runs it into Laertes. He then charges Claudius and runs into him. He also takes the wine and forces Claudius to drink from it. Both Claudius and Laertes died before Hamlet.
This reuse of the idea of pouring poison in one’s ear doesn’t seem to be a very important one but it was something I missed the first time around from reading too fast.
The motif of a seemingly healthy exterior concealing inward sickness establishes meaning through foreshadowing and irony by demonstrating that it spreads throughout and ultimately rids itself of everything that conceals inward sickness. Corrupted thoughts throughout William Shakespeare’s Hamlet are based on greediness and the act of avenging a family member’s death.
King Hamlet was a magnanimous man, with many different ambitions but before he could successfully complete any of the ambitions, he was the victim of fratricide. Claudius, King Hamlet’s brother poisoned the king in ear while he was sleeping the in the Garden of Eden, he did this so he could be the one to take over the throne. Claudius was very envious of his brother. As he is very alike the Biblical figures Cain and Abel, when...
It is here that one begins to see the theme of revenge and the idea that power can cause corruption. A family is supposed to be loyal and trusting of each other without any doubts; or so it was thought. Shakespeare uses Claudius’ betrayal of late King Hamlet to disprove the notion that family is always loyal. Claudius’ jealousy of his own brother and his desire to be the most powerful in Denmark corrupted him. It led him to betray his own family, a bond that is supposed to be unbreakable, and all the while feeling no guilt while acting as if he had not committed the crime. In addition to this, Claudius also takes late King Hamlet’s wife. Hamlet is enraged by the crime and adultery committed by his supposed family and feels he must seek justice for his father by taking out revenge on Claudius and therefore betraying him. Subsequently, the play becomes a slippery slope of events stemming from betrayal and revenge. The betrayal of one character became the revenge and betrayal of many others as seen when Horatio says, “… violent and unnatural acts, terrible accidents, casual murders, deaths caused by trickery and by threat, and finally murderous plans that backfired on their perpetrators,” showing that each act committed by the characters were returned back to them. This can be supported through the deaths of Claudius, Laertes, and Hamlet as these were just a
...t, with traitorous gifts- / O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power / So to seduce!–won to his shameful lust / The will of [King Hamlet’s] most seeming virtuous queen” (I, v, 42-46). This is important because the Ghost is comparing Claudius to the serpent that seduces Eve in the Garden of Eden, confirming his manipulative nature. Therefore, through Shakespeare’s extensive use of imagery, Claudius’ corrupt, manipulative, and ruthless nature can be seen.
In William Shakespeare 's play, Hamlet, after Hamlet’s father is murdered with poison by his brother Claudius, the contagion of vengeful actions begins to plague the people in the kingdom. Hamlet Sr. and his death are symbolic of the kingdom as a whole. Once he is poisoned the evil deeds of King Claudius begin to spread throughout Elsinore. Hamlet puts on an antic disposition and decides to seek retribution after speaking with his father’s ghost, and uncovering the truth about his death. The tainting of Hamlet’s mind and his need to seek revenge against his uncle ultimately leads to Hamlet’s insanity and demise towards the resolution of the play. Everyone in the kingdom becomes delusional and angry, and Shakespeare uses
... 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.
Claudius begins this soliloquy by using a metaphor to compare his sin to a pungent and noxious smell, implying that he knows he can not be forgiven for his appalling crime. In line 37, Shakespeare uses olfactory imagery to show that Claudius’ transgression has made it’s way to heaven through its strong smell. This olfactory imagery provides the conception of an immoral act. In line 37-38, Claudius confesses to killing his brother and
In many literary works, Symbolism is used to reveal themes and messaged. Shakespeare's Hamlet is not an exception to this, as we see many themes and messages revealed through various symbols in the play. Most of the symbols in the play, such as poison and the skull of Yorick, seem to be intentionally placed; although, others, like Ophelia's flowers and the ghost of King Hamlet in armor, are inferred by the reader. A major symbol in Hamlet is poison.
Claudius is seen in Hamlets eyes as a horrible person because he convicted murder and incest. Claudius had killed the king of Denmark, Old Hamlet, to obtain the position of the throne. He had been jealous of Old Hamlet’s wife Gertrude and wanted to marry her for her power. Although, such an act would be called incest and considered unnatural he did not care, all he had cared about was the power that he would be stealing from Hamlet and Old Hamlet, Gertrude’s son and husband (R). When Hamlet had talked to his f...
Claudius, the wise man, is not so wise anymore. His short amount of time being King, 9 people died, including King Hamlet, Hamlet, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, and Claudius, him self, all because of his selfish ways. First he wanted to become King, and have a gorgeous wife, because he was envious of his brother. He wanted it all, but no one gets it that easy. As soon as anyone got in his way of his brilliant plan, he wanted to destroy them. Claudius did everything in his power to save his ass. Although poison was a metaphor in this play it is also clear that poison was literally being used as well. Unfortunately for Claudius though, saving his own ass killed everyone around him, including the ones he loved, therefore left him with nothing and now he is the one who is truly dead.
The relationship between Hamlet and Claudius is problematic, largely due to the fact that they both wish death upon the other. For instance, they view each other as a threat, which is a foreboding sign within a royal family. When Hamlet learns that his father was murdered by his own uncle - Claudius, Hamlet vows to avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius when he is told, “But know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown” (1.5.38-40). In other words, the ghost of Old King Hamlet informs Hamlet that Claudius has murdered him. He compares Claudius to a serpent, a large deadly
The imagery in the play of Hamlet is composed of disease, poison, and decay this adds to the overall atmosphere of horror and tragedy. First, hamlet uses images of disease to show the state of the country of Denmark and his mother. Second, the imagery of poison is used to describe his father’s death. Lastly, Hamlet describes his feelings toward himself and Claudius and his feelings toward his mother by using images of decay. In Hamlet, as in all literature, imagery adds to reader’s ability to imagine the feeling of the story.