Metaphor Hamlet example essay topic

"Unweeded Garden" Throughout the powerful play, "Hamlet", Shakespeare skillfully incorporates many brilliant metaphors. Shakespeare uses clever stylistic devises that help introduce reoccurring themes, and the overall tone of the play. The very first soliloquy involves Hamlet, after his mother and uncle announce their marriage. This soliloquy is one of the most significant because it creates the tone for the rest of the play. Hamlet begins his speech, "O, that this too too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His cannon 'gainst self-slaughter!

O God, God, How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on 't, ah fie! 'Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature Possesses it merely. That it should come to this! But two months dead-nay, not so much, not two.

So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother That he might not be teem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth". The general tone of his speech is extremely bitter, and depressing. Hamlet is devastated by his father's death, and disgusted by his mother's marriage to his uncle. He believes that his mother did not mourn his father's death, and remarried far too quickly. This is shown when Hamlet says", But two months dead-nay not so much, not two!" Also, in this soliloquy Hamlets contemplates suicide.

However, he will not end his life because it is against his religion. Hamlet says, "O, that this too too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! O God, God". Hamlet would like to melt away, and end all of his problems, but this was not acceptable in his religion.

Throughout Hamlet's speech, there are many clever and well-incorporated metaphors. However, the metaphor Hamlet uses to describe Denmark is the most significant. Hamlet says", 'Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature. Possess it merely That it should come to this". This metaphor directly relates to the reoccurring theme throughout the play.

The theme is corruption, and how it can uncontrollably plague a nation. In this metaphor, Hamlet compares Denmark to an unweeded garden. The weeds are associated with negativity and corruption within Denmark. Like weeds overtake a beautiful garden, corruption has overtaken a once peaceful and beautiful country. Eventually, the garden will be completely devastated by the weeds if it is not properly taken care of. This holds true for Denmark, as well.

The death of a great king, and the incestuous marriage has corrupted the country. Eventually the negativity will take over the country if it is not properly "weeded". This metaphor shows how poorly Hamlet now thinks of Denmark, after everything that has occurred. A once peaceful, and humble country has been bombarded by evil and corruption. He is ashamed and disgusted of what his homeland has turned into. Also, this metaphor connects directly to the events in the play.

Eventually, Hamlet discovers that his father was murdered by his own uncle, Claudius. This is yet another "weed" in Denmark. Not only has there been an incestuous marriage, but there was also corruption behind it. The murder was skillfully planned by Claudius. He was overtaken with envy of his brother, King Hamlet. This drove him to murder, and marrying his own brother's widow.

In conclusion, this metaphor alone has a great significance. It introduces the reoccurring theme of evil and corruption. Also, it sets the tone for the overall play, and Hamlets attitude towards his own country.