The first techniques to be discussed are imagery and diction and their role in portraying the first part of the theme, that being “often times things are not what they seem”. The first line of the passage says: “the counterfeit presentment of two brothers” in reference to Hamlet’s father and Claudius. From the very beginning of the passage the sub-theme of deception of perception is brought about. Hamlet goes on to degrade Claudius by use of insults (made up of images, in turn made up of diction).
“A murderer and a villain;
A slave that is not twentieth part of the tithe
Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings;
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
That from a shelf the precious diadem stole,
And put it in his pocket!”
In this quote Hamlet is unveiling the true nature of Claudius, especially by treating him of a murderer and a cutpurse (pickpocket). These two insults are references to the murder of Hamlet’s father and the thievery of the crown; two crimes that prove to be very deceiving of a king.
Once Hamlet had explained this to Gertrude she realized her wrong choice. At this point we can characterize Gertrude as being repressive and denying. This is shown through her diction and imagery;
“O Hamlet, speak no more:
Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul;
And there I see such black and grained spots
As will not leave their tinct.”
Her demand of Hamlet to cease his attacks show that she is unable to face the truth, she goes on to say “these words, like daggers, enter in mine ears” which proves further that the truth about her choice is too painful for her to admit. The image of the daggers in conjunction with her “black and grained spots” bring about the omnipresent theme of order versus disorder- which can apply in this situation as Gertrude is in a disorderly situation, where she cannot accept the truth. Another technique that shows her fear of the truth is repetition. “No more” is repeated three times as she begs hamlet to stop his attacks, showing an increasingly greater desire to avoid the truth. This fits in to the main theme as she clearly shows that it is hard to accept the wrong choice that she has made.
Finally the last aspect of the main theme of the passage- how it is difficult to reason a bad choice- is brought up by hamlet more so than by his mother. In the beginning of the passage he goes on to question her choice of lower quality of man, comparing his father to god’s and later referring to Claudius as a criminal.
“See, what a grace was seated on his brow;
Hyperion’s curls; the front of Jove himself;
An eye like Mars, to threaten and command;
A station like the herald Mercury”
All the references are to male gods of great importance and strength such as Mars that is god of war, Hyperion that is god of the sun (as is Jove) and finally Mercury the messenger god, and god of commerce. He goes to say that this husband was great but now she is married to a “mildew’d ear”- an image that is degrading to Claudius.
“…have you eyes?
… Nor sense to ecstasy was ne’er so thrall’d”
In this long quote Hamlet goes to question what could’ve possibly given his mother to marry this man. Without giving his mother the opportunity to explain herself, he cancels out the possibility of love, as she is too old to feel the excitation and passion of love. This fits in the theme as Hamlet shows that he is unable to understand Gertrude’s decision, as for him it lacks reasoning and doesn’t offer her a chance to explain herself.
Through this text analysis we can see how the theme of how often times things are not what they seem, when we trust this illusion the choice made is hard to accept and it is hard for others to reason how we came to that decision. This theme represents the situation that Hamlet was in as he was by himself in having to find out if the ghost was real or unreal, and if it was evil or good- it is the situation he was in when he had to act so strangely to the whole exterior world, when inside he knew he was sane. At this point in the play hamlet is wrong to attack his mother in such a way that is why the ghost of Hamlet’s father comes at the end of the scene to remind him of the real mission. He let his private griefs get to him. After his father’s visit Hamlet makes his mother a confident and becomes more trusting towards her. She on the other hand thinks her son is delusional. In conclusion everyone has their reason to make choices which cannot be comprehended by others, and they may have negative ramifications.
