The Genius of Shakespeare's Hamlet

Betrayal. It's the only word running through Hamlet's mind throughout the course of Shakespeare's most famous play. His father, the king of Denmark, is dead and his mother has already moved on. Hardly two moths after the king's death, she married her brother-in-law; the very king's brother. Hamlet thinks it a disgrace on his father's honor and is upset with his mother for not mourning longer. However, with the support of his best friend Horatio, Hamlet finds a way to deal with his frustrations and grief. It just so happens that while Horatio was out on watch, he saw the ghost of his father, the king. It seemed approachable, but only willing to speak with Hamlet. Upon hearing the news, Hamlet rejoices and plans to wait for his father's apparition that night.

Once Hamlet and his father are reunited, the ghost speaks through hushed tones and words heavy with metaphor to portray his distress. The first signs of contempt the ghost displays comes when he describes his death as not an accident, but a murder. This is where metaphor comes in to play. The ghost artfully twists the rumor of his death with actual fact and includes a deserved title for his brother when he says, "the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." Not only do the ghost's words contain contemptuous metaphor, but they are dripping with imagery. The mental picture of Claudius the snake wearing his father's crown was ever present in Hamlet's mind. Through this use of metaphor, he was able to inspire his son to seek revenge on his brother. In fact, he tells Hamlet that if he isn't inspired to take action, he'll be "duller... than the fat weed that roots itself in ease on Lethe Wharf." However, Hamlet fully understands the situation and has enough emotion and fervor to partake in his father's quest.

After the king describes his murder, he vents off many names for his brother, Claudius. "Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast with witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts..." is just one of the ghost's many rants. He then describes how his brother seduced the love of his life with "shameful lust". This colorful language and imagery moves Hamlet and he becomes even more motivated to do something about Claudius. He thought he had reason enough to hate his new father-in-law. Now he had solid proof that everyone in Denmark, including his mother, should have a reason to hate Claudius.

As Hamlet listens to his father retell how he died, he finds himself in a rage that stays with him throughout the play. He finds it hard to digest the fact that Claudius poisoned his brother to death just because he was jealous of him. He wasn't as graceful, intelligent, or regal enough in comparison to his father's qualities in life. Jealousy must have been a dominating factor in Claudius' decision to kill the King. And, most disturbingly for the king, he left his brother to die even before he could confess his sins. The distress Hamlet hears in his father's voice over this matter is enough to motivate him to seek revenge on Claudius.

Through this scene in which Hamlet and the ghost of his father converse, it is obvious that they share the same feelings about Claudius. However, Hamlet's father does not feel as betrayed by Gertrude, his wife, as Hamlet does. He tells Hamlet to "leave her to heaven," so that's just was he tries to do throughout the play. He decides not to take direct action against her, but instead, on Claudius. In the scenes following this act in the play, Hamlet's actions and feelings are dictated by his father's words beyond the grave. His instructions are to leave his mother "to heaven" and seek bitter revenge on Claudius, king of all snakes.