Throughout the duration of the play, explicit connections are made between the ethical legitimacy of Claudius and the welfare of the country. Denmark is frequently described as diseased by the corruption of Claudius and Gertrude. Claudius is seen to be a wicked politician, who compromised the state of Denmark to appease himself. Hamlet’s father is depicted as a just ruler, who, under his guard, kept the state in good health; however, those who have encountered the late Hamlet’s ghost, as stated in Act I, Scene IV, interpret the spirit to represent, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,” (Shakespeare, p.1691 par. 5). At the end of Hamlet, the rise of power is granted to Fortinbras and the state of Denmark is believed to be
Throughout the duration of the play, explicit connections are made between the ethical legitimacy of Claudius and the welfare of the country. Denmark is frequently described as diseased by the corruption of Claudius and Gertrude. Claudius is seen to be a wicked politician, who compromised the state of Denmark to appease himself. Hamlet’s father is depicted as a just ruler, who, under his guard, kept the state in good health; however, those who have encountered the late Hamlet’s ghost, as stated in Act I, Scene IV, interpret the spirit to represent, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,” (Shakespeare, p.1691 par. 5). At the end of Hamlet, the rise of power is granted to Fortinbras and the state of Denmark is believed to be