Hamlet Disillusionment Depression Despair Essay Example

Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern inadvertently reveal the instructions from the King and Queen when they unwittingly disclose their intentions and purposes to Hamlet.

Thus, truth prevails in this passage, devoid of the "artful" poetic devices found in the rest of the play. The passage also showcases the recurring motif of corruption. Shakespeare suggests that the state of Denmark is tainted by its wicked internal affairs such as murder and incest, which ultimately has a negative impact on the grand universal order.

The use of distorted and unpleasant plants in a garden instead of the typical beautiful flowers contributes to the overarching theme of decay. This is emphasized by the quote "'Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature possess it merely." (Act 1, Scene 2) Essentially, everything in life, including what was once good and beautiful (like the garden), has become tainted. Hamlet, who has lost his idealism, continues with this motif as he sadly proclaims: "the earth seems to me a barren hill." (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 321-2) Furthermore, he describes the air as "nothing to me but a polluted and poisonous mixture of vapors." (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 325-6) These lines represent Hamlet's cosmic perspective on the planet.

In the passage, he perceives the world as void and lifeless, filled with filth and disease, and his own existence within it as desolate and solitary. In fact, he feels so isolated and trapped in his homeland that he describes the world as a prison. He refers to it as a "goodly" prison with numerous boundaries and confinement areas, and Denmark being one of the worst. This perspective on the world

highlights the concept of micro/macro, where Denmark represents the "micro" version of a prison for our protagonist. The contamination of Denmark's "micro" state results in consequences that affect the entire universal order, causing Hamlet to perceive the world itself as a "macro" manifestation of a prison. Furthermore, later in the same paragraph, Hamlet expresses his admiration for humanity, praising their virtues and exceptional qualities. However, it is ironic that the ideal depiction of mankind Hamlet portrays cannot be found within the play. Instead, Hamlet himself is indecisive and incapable of taking action, Claudius is enslaved by his desires and emotions, Polonius is a submissive and foolish elderly man, and Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are mindless fools.

In the play, Hamlet concludes that there is no true man. This realization, combined with his inability to adjust to the unnatural state of Denmark, causes him to lose his passion for life. Additionally, Hamlet believes that there is hidden wickedness beneath Claudius' surface of calm. As a result of these factors, Hamlet loses faith in humanity, expressing his disillusionment with the phrase "And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?" (Scene 2, Act 2, Lines 332-3). Using biblical references, Hamlet defines man as merely "that which came from dust".

According to this viewpoint, it is believed that only God embodies Truth. Since humans originate from the lowly earth, they cannot be relied upon to produce pure and genuine thoughts, as their source itself is impure and unclean. If one accepts this understanding of human nature, it explains the behavior of all the characters in the play.