Free Hamlet Essays: Imagery in Hamlet :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Imagery in Hamlet  Ã‚   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. In the first act of Hamlet, Hamlet uses imagery of disease to describe the state of Denmark. He is unhappy with what has happened with the country. "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark." He is describing how disgusted he is with his mother and how she is sleeping with his uncle using images of disease. "It will but skin and film the ulcerous place / Whiles rank corruption, mining all within, infects unseen." The imagery of disease is a main factor in this story and is used in large amounts. It shows a feeling of disgust that Hamlet has with the surrounding situation in the play and his life. Imagery of poison is used when the ghost describes the death of Hamlets father in a way to disgust Hamlet and goad hi into revenge. "†¦/ thy uncle stole / with juice of cursed hebona in a vile, / And in the porches of my ears did pour / The leperous distilment, whose effect / Holds such an enmity with blood of man / †¦ / And curd, like eager droppings into milk, / †¦ / with vile and loathsome crust / All my smooth body." The imagery of poison is used to express and induce a feeling of horror into the reader. Hamlet is obsessed with suicide and wants his skin to melt off because he is disgusted with himself. "O that this too too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew†¦" This adds a felling that hamlet is disturbed and growing worse. He then wants the king to die like a beggar and rip out his guts. "Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress / through the guts of a beggar." This shows an effect that hamlet is angry and disturbed by adding a felling of horror.