Theme Of Appearance And Death In Hamlet

The images of pretence, disease, decay and corruption in Hamlet is used to paint vivid images in the mind of the readers. Margaret Atwood uses imagery in her poem Boat song to further the theme of appearance versus reality, and this can also be seen in the use of the images of disease and decay and its relation to the theme. Hamlet was set in a time in which this theme was a part of the rules by which society was set. Shakespeare uses the theme of appearance versus reality to support the imagery in his works.

A good example of how the theme of appearance versus reality relates to the image of pretence in the play is in 1.4, Hamlet has just discovered the truth of his father’s death after encountering his ghost. Shakespeare uses the image of

Another main character in the play is Ophelia, who is the love interest of Hamlet. Hamlet creeps into Ophelia’s room one night looking haggard and even though Hamlet had not said any words to Ophelia, she immediately comes to the conclusion that Hamlet must have lost his mind because he ‘appeared’ to not be in a state of right mind. There is no other confirmation or indication that Hamlet must be insane. The other main characters in this play such as Ophelia, Polonius, Claudius and Gertrude draw conclusions based on Hamlet’s appearance and the words he says that make no sense. All these attribute to the theme of appearance versus reality because the reality of it is that Hamlet is only pretending to have lost his mind as part of his ploy to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet is set in a time when the image of an individual defined who they where and this is still true

The images of disease and decay is made abundant in the play. A famously quoted line even in the world today; “Something rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.4.95). This was spoken by Marcellus as the first indication that due to the appearance of the ghost things where not all as they should be. The ghost of Hamlet’s dead father should rest in peace if there was no foul play involved in his death. This also served as a fore shadowing about the disaster that was going to befall Denmark. It appears that Denmark is a prosperous country except for the fact that young Fortinbras (the prince of Norway) wants to start a war with Denmark. Claudius sees Hamlet as a plague or a disease saying that: “But like the owner of a foul disease,/ To keep it from divulging, let it feed /Even on the pith of life” (4.1). It is ironic considering that Claudius is the root of all the misfortunes that has happened in the lives of the character. He blames Gertrude for encouraging them to keep Hamlet’s ‘madness’ a secret when they should have dealt with it before it became dangerous. To the extent of killing Polonius (the father of Ophelia). In 5.1, the imagery of disease and decay is made abundant in the fact that the scene starts with two grave diggers: “Faith, if he be not rotten before he die—as we have many /pocky corses nowadays that will scarce hold /the laying in— he will last you some