Hamlet

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, has many recurring motifs and symbols. These images appear in various places throughout the play to add sensory details and keen perceptions. One of the most poignant examples of this imagery is the motif of inner sickness and corruption, primarily an inner corruption concealed by the false pretense of virtue: “It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, / Whiles rank corruption, mining all within, / Infects unseen” (3.4.154-6). In another example, when Polonius is about to use his daughter as a decoy for Hamlet, he confesses that “with devotion’s visage / And pious action we so sugar o’er / The devil himself” (3.1.47-9). Another prominent motif is that of poisoning. Poison was used in Claudius’ murder of Hamlet’s father, the poison in the Player’s version of the same murder, and the two kinds of poisons --one in the sword and one in the drink–in Claudius’ and Laertes’ plot to kill Hamlet. This poison can also be considered in a more general nature–as the poisoning of mankind, or the milieu of death: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.4.90). This archetypal poisoning of mankind can be likened to ancient times, back to the first recorded murder --Cain killing his brother Abel. Laments Claudius, “O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven; / It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, / A brother’s murder” (3.3.36-8).

Another age-old sin committed in Hamlet is incest, or what the English considered incest --a woman marrying her deceased husband’s brother. Even the Ghost, when speaking of Claudius, thinks this way: “Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, / With. . .gifts, that have the power to seduce” (1.5.43-6). Hamlet also feels this way, judging by his comments concerning Gertrude’s “wicked speed, to post / With such dexterity to incestuous sheets” (1.2.156-7).

Several other images occur in Hamlet. Images of weeds, as symbols of things that are unwanted, appear frequently, such as “And do not spread compost on the weeds / To make them ranker” (3.4.158-9). Speaking of the world, Hamlet states: “'Tis an unweeded garden / That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature / Possess it merely” (1.2.135-7). In an interesting comparison of Hamlet to a horse, Hamlet states that “while the green grass grows–” but cannot finish the proverb. The rest of it continues, “While the silly horse starves,” implying that Hamlet will not live long enough to succeed the Kingdom. When Lucianus pours poison in Gonzago’s ear, the concoction is made up of “midnight weeds collected” (3.2.255).

Another prominent motif is of birds. One of the first instances occurs when the Ghost appears to Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus. The Ghost is visible at night, but as soon as the cock crows, he disappears: “It faded on the crowing of the cock” (1.1.163). Another bird is mentioned before Gonzago’s murder: “Come, the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge” (3.2.252). Passing references include Hamlet’s “Let the birds fly” (3.4.201) as well as his self-deprecating comment, “But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall” (2.2.577).