Rotten Illusions: The Symbolism of Poison

Hamlet Interpretation.

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” How it all began, the poisoning of King Hamlet. Now, obviously many other things are rotten in Denmark, but it is how they are all connected that holds true meaning. King Hamlet, the King of Denmark, was murdered by his power-lusting brother, Claudius. He was poisoned while asleep in the orchard during the afternoon, through the ear. It had spread throughout his body, in his veins churning the what was light blood into curdles. This starts it all, the insanity of Hamlet, the fall of the kingdom, and the rottenness that then becomes Denmark.  

“Haste me to know ’t, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge.” (Hamlet to The Ghost, Act I, Scene V.) Hamlet thought highly of his father, and when he heard of his passing, obviously, he was mournful. Unlike his mother. King Hamlet shows up as a ghost throughout the play which gives an overall eerie vibe. Now, this ghost is seen by multiple people in the play, if it were only Hamlet who sees the ghost, we would think him more insane than he already seems to be. But since Marcellus, Horatio, and Bernardo all witness the ghost, Hamlet’s insanity can be considered sane. Yet Gertrude (Hamlet’s Mother and ex-wife of King Hamlet) and others cannot see him, perhaps King Hamlet’s ghost can only be seen by those who stayed loyal to him.

As the play progresses, Hamlet allows the idea of avenging his father's murder eat him alive. The tragic flaw in his character is his inability to act; he can’t follow thru with his want to commit suicide and refuses to kill Claudius while he prays, stating that “Now might I do it pat. Now he is a-praying. And now I’ll do ’t. And so he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged.—That would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven.” (Hamlet, Act III, Scene III.) His “want” to kill his uncle (Claudius) leads him to kill Polonius when confronting his mother about her sinful and rotten love with Claudius. “A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother.” (Hamlet to Gertrude, Act III, Scene IV.) Hamlet’s “madness” manifests from the people around him, that is if his madness is true. Hamlet could easily be faking insanity, and it was just all part of a clever plan. “"I essentially am not in madness, but mad in craft." (Hamlet, Act III, Scene IV.)

King Hamlet’s death is easily a metaphor for the fall of the kingdom and corruption of the royal family. Claudius murdering his own brother is what “is rotten in the state of Denmark,” disloyalty in the kingdom. Shakespeare must have chosen poison and the murder weapon for a reason. The poison spreads throughout his body in his blood just like how the corruption of Denmark spreads in the “blood” of the state. How it clots his blood and starts from his ear to his feet, from top to bottom. How the poison starts within him, then killing him. From the inside out. The decay of the kingdom starts within itself, those in power being the roots of it all.

The symbolism of things being rotten, decaying, and corrupt are common within the first act because the key point of it started with royalty. Royalty being the overall state of Denmark, there is something rotten and brings everything down to ruins.

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

Quote Analysis - Hamlet - William Shakespeare

One of the most recognizable quotes from Hamlet, aside from the “To be or not to be” soliloquy, is when Marcellus tells Horatio “something is rotten in the state Denmark.” Now, contrary to belief, this quote is actually said by Marcellus, not Hamlet himself. This quote is often misquoted as “something rotten [is] in Denmark” which, I feel, takes away from a portion its true meaning.

The significance of it being a rather small character, like Marcellus, who declares that somethings is in fact rotten in Denmark really brings out the true tale of it. If it were Hamlet who would have said it, it wouldn't come off as strong because he is seen as mad to those around him, so it would have easily been brushed off. Marcellus is the first on to see the ghost of Hamlet's father (along with Bernardo, but he isn’t important right now.) Marcellus (and Bernardo) call for Horatio to witness this ghost. It is Horatio and Marcellus who are with Hamlet when he first sees the ghost. Small characters are placed for a reason and sometimes they can give everything a little bit more meaning.

Some often misquote this line as being “something rotten [is] in Denmark” and honestly it pisses me off. I feel that the placement of the “is” and the adding of the “state” conveys a different meaning to the quote. When it is said as “something rotten [is] in Denmark”, I feel as if it is not new news. That this “rottenness” has been happening for awhile and it’s more of a statement of fact and a shrug off the shoulders. When the quote is said as “something is rotten in the state of Denmark”, it sends a more true meaning. That something is indeed rotten, and it is for sure in exactly only Denmark. It makes the quote feel far more sharp and pinpointed to the fact that Denmark is rotting from the inside out and it is only going to get worse.

Now there is not “exact” meaning to this quote, it can be interpreted in many different ways. Obviously many things are “rotten” within the kingdom because (spoiler alert) everyone dies, but it is how all the rotten things are connected that is important. The marriage between Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) and Claudius (his uncle.) This relationship is almost incestuous and, to make matters worse, happened only two months after the death of King Hamlet (Hamlet’s father.) The fact that Gertrude is not in mourning sends Hamlet into suspect of foul play. This line was said after Hamlet had left to follow the ghost of his father. Marcellus and Horatio, who feel that Hamlet should not be left alone with the ghost follow him even though Hamlet told them not to, they follow because “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” This, I feel, is foreshadowing to the death of basically everyone because it all starts with Hamlet learning about the foul play in his fathers death that leads him to seek revenge. How King Hamlet is killed can be used as a metaphor for how these bad omens spreads throughout Denmark: the poison entered his ear and spread throughout his body, then killing him. The ghost of King Hamlet leads to the revenge and death of many of the characters within the play because of its domino effect but eventually circles back around and leads to the total decay of Hamlet himself and his uncle.

The symbolism of things being rotten, decaying, and corrupt are common within the first act because the key point of it started with royalty. Royalty being the overall state of Denmark, there is something rotten and brings everything down to ruins.