Corruption+and+Decay

Act 1 Scene 1 - “… the graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets…” (127-128)
 * Corruption and Decay **
 * The sight of the ghost figure has elicited fear and concern in both the guards and Horatio, for they view the apparition as an evil omen indicating the ill-fated future of the state.
 * Horatio’s mention of the deceased rising out of their graves and walking around the Roman streets, while linking to the theme of ‘decay’ in terms of death, also contributes to the idea of the sight of the dead being perceived as a bad omen and, in this case, indicative of the decayed state of Denmark

Act 1 Scene 2 - “..bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom to be contracted in one brow of owe…” (3-4) - “our sometime sister, now our queen… taken to wife” (8-14) - “A little more than kin and less than kind.” (67); - “…I am too much in the sun” (69) - “… ’Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature…” (139-140) - “O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (161-162) - “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer!” (154-155) - “ deeds will rise, though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes.” (279-281)
 * King Claudius delivers an elaborate speech regarding King Hamlet Sr.’s death in an attempt to appear as feeling in grief. His poor moral standards are emphasized and further amplified through such pretentious speech as it seems that he shows no guilt or remorse towards his sinful action.
 * The mention of his marriage with Gertrude, who used to be his sister-in-law adds to the portrayal of King Claudius is a morally corrupted character
 * Hamlet’s acrid, bitter reaction towards King Claudius’s mention of Hamlet as his son, shows how Hamlet views the unusual family relationship as morally improper
 * Hamlet, in grief of his father’s death, also mentions that it would be better to leave the world full of corruption (having seen Claudius-Gertrude’s marriage), refers the world as the one that is not receiving the necessary care and thus in the process of decaying
 * Hamlet expresses harsh criticism against the quickness with which the marriage between King Claudius and Queen Gertrude took place after King Hamlet Sr.’s death, finding it to be unethical; he even mentions “a beast”, an animal without reasoning abilities to retain any kinds of moral standards, would have acted in a more ‘proper’ (morally proper) manner. Hamlet views the relationship between Claudius and Gertrude as incestuous
 * It is alluded and hinted that the revelation of the ‘concealed’ corrupted nature of some characters (i.e. Claudius) and their sinful actions will take place, as Hamlet expresses his hope for them to be clearly revealed after getting to speak to his father’s spirit

Act 1 Scene 4 - “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” (100)
 * Having seen the reappearance of the ghost and Hamlet following the ghost immediately, Horatio and Marcellus start worrying. Again, the apparition of the ghost is perceived as an omen indicative of the fate of Denmark and also representative of its currently decayed state

Act 1 Scene 5 - “…foul and most unnatural murder” (31) - “Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast” (49) - “Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest” (89-90) - “Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven…” (92-93) - “O most pernicious woman!” (112) - “O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!” (113)
 * The ghost seems to have a tendency of amplifying the immorality involved in the murder (partly to evoke enough sympathy in Hamlet so that he can take on his revenge); he describes the murder to be particularly foul and tainted than any other murders, mainly because it is the brother who has committed the crime
 * The description regarding King Claudius becomes even more critical, and emphasizes his immoral qualities by referring him as a ‘beast’, again, an animal without any proper moral standards and beliefs. The ghost also expresses his worries as he sees that now the incestuous King is governing the state, Denmark as a country will fall into the state of corruption
 * The ghost notes that Gertrude’s decision to marry Claudius so quickly also is not necessarily a tolerable action, her guilt and nature will eventually take care of her sin. He also advises Hamlet to be cautious of not falling into the abyss of corruption, foul taint
 * What disturbs Hamlet so much is the realization and the corroboration of corrupted minds, and foul deeds of Claudius, and feeling of betrayal he gets from his mother, Gertrude, as well; he openly expresses such feelings by directly criticizing, or cursing the two in his lines

Act 2 Scene 1 o “As gaming, my lord” “Yes, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling, drabbing-you may go so far” (27-29)
 * Polonius orders Reynaldo to check on his son, Laertes; as he carefully instructs Reynaldo on how to go on finding out about Laertes’s potential engagement in corrupted behaviors, Polonius mentions specific conducts that he finds inappropriate and corrupted, which Reynaldo should report immediately to Polonius if he discovers that Laertes is responsible for behaving in such ways (as he is someone that is particularly concerned with his family’s reputation and image)

Act 2 Scene 2 o “Why, it appearth no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason… and yet, to  me, what is this quintessence of dust?” (325-332) o “Black as his purpose…Now is he total gules, horridly tricked/With blood of fathers, mothers, …/That lend a tyrannous and a damned light/To their lord’s  murder. Roasted in wrath and fire,/ And thus o’ersized with coagulate gore…” (478-487) o “Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!” (608-609)  Act 3 Scene 1 o “Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners” (131-132) o “…for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them.” (150-151)
 * While Hamlet underlines the noble qualities that men are meant to possess and are supposed to be found in the world, he juxtaposes these fine aspects of the mankind with what he actually sees in people around him, therefore effectively emphasizing the corruption and decay he finds (especially seems to be talking with King Claudius in his mind)
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">As Hamlet delivers his short monologue to indicate the speech that he wishes to hear from the visiting actors, the plot included in the delivered speech reflects and parallels with the corrupted acts of King Claudius, especially concerning his merciless murder
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">After listening to the actor’s speech, Hamlet is stricken with the realization that he has failed to show the amount of passion and determination he saw in the actor’s mere acting in his attempt to take a revenge; again, reference to corruption is made in this lengthy monologue delivered by Hamlet
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">As Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery, he implies that giving birth is a futile act and almost a dangerous act that needs to be avoided, for he believes that every new born man is like a corrupted monster or sinner that will only do harms.

<span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Act 3 Scene 2 o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“For look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within’s two hours.” (133-135)
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">As the performance goes on, Hamlet exchanges conversation with Ophelia; in this conversation Hamlet once again refers to Gertrude’s hasty marriage with Claudius, thus underscoring the amount of disappointment that is bearing on Hamlet’s mind after having realized or seen the tainted side of his mother that he had previously been unaware of.

<span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Act 3 Scene 3 o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven;” (40) o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“In the corrupted currents of this world, / Offense’s gilded hand may shove by justice,/ And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself/ Buy the law. But ’tis not so <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> above:” (61-64) o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“O wretched state! O bosom black as death!/ O limed soul, that struggling to be free,/ Art more engaged!” (71-73)
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">After ordering Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England immediately and Polonius informing him that Hamlet is going to talk to Gertrude alone, King Claudius is left alone. He takes this private time as an opportunity to pray, hoping to purge away his sin. He acknowledges that his crime is significantly rotten. Yet, as he seeks repentance, he is forced to realize that his unforgivable sin and the benefits that he has reaped from committing the crime (such as, his position as a ruler, marrying Gertrude, etc.) are so corrupted that they prevent him from breaking free of the sense of guilt and remorse.

o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,/ Or in th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed,/ At game a-swearing, or about some act/ That has no relish of <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> salvation…/Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, / And that his soul may be as damned and black/ As hell, whereto it goes.” (94-100)
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">When Claudius is trying to pray, Hamlet considers taking his revenge at the spot. Yet, Hamlet, believing that killing Claudius while he is praying will only help him go to heaven after death, decides against killing him there. Instead, Hamlet promises to himself that he will kill Claudius when he is engaging in morally corrupt, dissolute behaviors:

<span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Act 3 Scene 4 o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">Gertrude: “Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul,/ And there I see such black and grained spots/ As will not leave their tinct.” (100-102) o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">Hamlet: “Nay, but to live/ In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed,/ Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love/ Over the nasty sty!” (103-106) o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“It will but skin and film the ulcerous place,/ Whiles rank corruption, mining all within,/ Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven…” (168-170) <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“Repent what’s past, avoid what is to come,/ And do not spread the compost on the weeds/ To make them ranker...” (171-173)
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Hamlet makes acrimonious remarks against her mother, Gertrude. The hostility and rudeness that he demonstrates towards his mother while frightens Gertrude due to the unexpectedness of such behavior from Hamlet, also prompts her to reflect on her past deeds, since Hamlet specifically points to how corrupted it was for her to marry Claudius.
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Hamlet, then, proceeds to tell his mother that she should beg for atonement, in addition to acknowledging her morally decayed behavior and decisions (i.e. decision to remarry so quickly, with Claudius).

<span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Act 4 Scene 1 o <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif;">“…and this vile deed/ We must with all our majesty and skill/ Both countenance and excuse…” (31-33)
 * <span style="font-family: Candara,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Gertrude reports Polonius’s death to King Claudius. Claudius pretends to be trying to cover up Hamlet’s murder, insisting that he should help excuse his action (while doing so, Claudius, who has engaged in evil conducts as well, refers to Hamlet’s action as “vile deed”)