Analysis of Statement 'Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark' in Shakespeare's Hamlet
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the words “Something is rotten in the state
of Denmark.” (I.iv.90) were spoken by Marcellous shortly after Hamlet leaves to follow a
ghost. Marcellous and Horatio both feel that Hamlet should not be left alone with the
ghost. Even though Hamlet directed them not to follow him, Marcellous feels that it
wouldn’t be right if they didn’t follow him because “Something is rotten in the state of
Denmark.” (I.iv.90) When examined, that statement can refer to many of things about
the ruling class that are rotten in the state of Denmark
One idea of the rottenness is the marriage between Hamlet’s uncle Claudius and
his mother Gertrude. Many consider the marriage almost incestuous, and Claudius feels
he must justify it by stating that he had the approval of the courtiers and that the marriage
was in the best interest of Denmark. The marriage is also suspiciously corrupt because it
took place only two months after the death of King Hamlet. Those circumstances cause
Hamlet to become extremely upset at his mother for her apparent lack of mourning and
helps support the idea of foul play King Hamlet’s death.
Another example of the rottenness in Denmark is King Hamlet’s death. Unknown
to the people of Denmark, it was Claudius who killed King Hamlet, and stole his crown
and his wife. Claudius had won the love of Gertrude and then murdered the King by
pouring the poisonous "juice of cursed hebona"(I.v.63) into his ear. This poison invaded
his defenseless body and "swift as quicksilver it courses through / The natural gates and
alleys of the body."(I.v.67) In a sense the poison used by Claudius spreads throughout
the entire country of Denmark.
Rottenness in Denmark is also seen in the ghost of King Hamlet. Just the sign of
a walking ghost is a bad omen in itself, a sign that something rotten will or has taken
place. The ghost has come to inform Hamlet that King Hamlet was murdered by
Claudius, who deprived him of a last opportunity to confess his sins. King Hamlet tells
the prince because of this he is doomed to spend his days within the purgatorial fires of
his prison and roam at nights. The ghost then calls upon Hamlet to avenge the murder.
Hamlet swears that he will, which will eventually lead to the total decay of him and his
Although playing what’s thought to represent a noble king, Claudius totally differs from that title. Claudius is a manipulative, under minding, selfish person: “That we wish wisest sorrow think on him,/ Together with remembrance of ourselves,/ Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen” (1.2.6-8). King Claudius kills the king of Denmark his own brother just to turn into the king of
Within ‘Hamlet’, Shakespeare makes a number of references to Denmark's degraded state due to the deceit that lies within. These references are made by Hamlet, Horatio as well as the apparition, thus enforcing the strong theme of death, decay and disease.
Hamlet was not sure if the ghost was really his father or if it was the devil trying to trick him to commit a crime. He needed to prove to himself that what the ghost said was true or not. Therefore he is going to stage a play that will reenact the killing of his father to see if the King is guilty.
...o Claudius and he admitted to killing King Hamlet. A brother’s murder, Claudius says, is the oldest sin and “hath the primal eldest curse upon’t” (III.iii.37). Thus, the eye and ear did not have to work simultaneously for Hamlet to prove Claudius to be guilty.
This play takes place mostly in Elsinore, Denmark between the fourteenth and fifteen century following the death of the late King Hamlet, who has been dead for two months prior to the beginning of the play (Shmoop Editorial Team). Act One commences in the middle of a routine nightly shift where Horatio, Hamlet’s friend, and two other guards witness the coming of a spirit that bears an uncanny resemblance to the recently deceased king. Meanwhile at Elsinore Claudius is crowned King with Hamlet’s mother as his queen. This chain of events causes discontent within Prince Hamlet as he delays his mourning time out of spite for the coronation. Afterwards, Horatio and the guards come to the consensus and tell Hamlet of their encounter so that the Prince may meet with the Ghost. The Ghost reveals to Hamlet that he was a victim of a well-planned murder at the hands of Claudius.
In Act 1 scene I, several guards and Horatio, a well educated close friend of Hamlet, see a ghost dressed in full armor. The ghost being in full armor resembles the tense mood of the scene, because many people are scared Denmark will go to war with Norway. The soldiers tell Horatio to question the ghost. He says: “What art thou that usurp’st this time of night, together with that fair and war-like form in which the majesty of buried Denmark did sometimes March? By heaven I charge thee, speak!” (pg. 33, l. 46). The ghost does not reply to his request and the guards think he has offended it. Later in the scene the ghost disappears into the mist. In a later scene Horatio tells Hamlet about seeing the ghost in the middle of the night. This leads to Hamlet meeting with in ghost in Act I, scene iiiii.
Claudius was a lot smarter than people gave him credit for. He was clever enough to devise a plan to kill the king, he had spies all around watching Hamlet's every move, and he found a way to become king. In Claudius' case, killing the king without the entire world suspecting him took a lot of planning and work. He poisoned the king in a way that no one would suspect. The play does not say where he got the poison used for King Hamlet, but it is not likely that he could just walk down to the market and purchase it.
List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love.” (Act I scene IV verses 1-23) The quote explains how the environment in Denmark decayed because the Ghost was explaining how he felt he was confined in the fires (hell). The ghost points out the progress of corruption and leads to the death from ‘disease’ of Hamlet, Claudius and Polonius.
Claudius greedy intentions take him to his murderous action. Claudius says, “The whole kingdom/to be contracted in one brow of woe”. (Shakespeare1.2.3-4) Claudius killing old king Hamlet knows that was the only way to have the kingdom. He gives the kingdom a new start under his new government and things that favors him but he still has those devious ways. He also gives the people a speech to represents how good of a ruler his is going to be and he even acknowledges his brother’s death. He gets to maintain the country affairs in his own way. The
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
rank and gross in nature”. (42) This soliloquy presents the audience a glimpse into Hamlet’s psyche, he is obviously
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,” Hamlet said, looking off into the distance as if deep in thought.
The story of Hamlet Senior's death is the ghost story aspect of the play. Hamlet Senior, the late king, was being tormented in hell throughout the daylight hours and during the night he was forced to walk the castle. He stated that he was "Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confin'd to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my [being the late King's] days of nature Are burnt and purg'd away (50 lines 10-13). His release from this torture would not be permitted until his avenger is retaliated against by his son. Hamlet, Francisco and Bernardo all see the ghost of the late king, but the apparition will only speak to his son. The ghost brings an unnatural feel to the drama and leaves the reader/viewer wondering if it was real or all in Hamlet's mind.
Claudius was even punished after death. His throne and whole castle was taken over by Fortinbras. Not only where his wife and friend dead, but he later died himself by his brother's son. Claudius killed and his turn to die came, but it took some time and other people to die too.
“A serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wear his crown.” There is given evidence throughout the entirety of the play that King Claudius is a murderer. Because of Claudius’s crafty skills of language, he uses words as his choice of weapon. After we learn of the Late King Hamlet’s death, King Claudius deceives the court into believing that the Late King Hamlet died in his sleep. When in truth, King Claudius has murdered the late King Hamlet. Another person of the court that dies due to King Claudius deception, is the widow of the Late King Hamlet and the new wife to King Claudius, Gertrude. King Claudius is able to lure Gertrude into believing his intentions are good until she dies from drinking poison out of a cup that was intended for Hamlet- her son. Yet the most evident form of treachery comes from King Claudius, so formally plotting against Hamlet – his nephew – until his death. All in all, King Claudius is a bad person