When Marcellus states, ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’ he is talking about Denmark’s relationship with Norway but on the symbolic level he is summing up Claudius’ corrupting effect on the kingdom which is intensified by his unpunished crime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu0Ga7XohcE
Contents
What does Marcellus mean by Something is rotten in the state of Denmark?
Marcellus, along with Horatio, has tried to get Hamlet not to follow the ghost but Hamlet has done it anyway. Marcellus says that something is rotten in Denmark, meaning that he does not trust that all is well — that he thinks something is wrong.
What do we learn about Denmark in Hamlet?
Denmark is the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The play opens with the king of Denmark having recently died (and it turns out murdered), the prince of Denmark upset about his father’s death and his mother’s (the queen of Denmark) quick remarriage, and the country itself unsettled or at least soon-to-be unsettled.
Why is Something is rotten in the state of Denmark important?
But ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’ is a significant line in Hamlet because it ushers in what will become a whole array of references to rotting, decay, corruption, and festering. This language is an important aspect of the imagery of the play, and it begins with Marcellus’ line.
When did Marcellus say Something is rotten in the state of Denmark?
Act I, scene iv
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. This line is spoken by Marcellus in Act I, scene iv (67), as he and Horatio debate whether or not to follow Hamlet and the ghost into the dark night.
What is rotten in the state of Denmark as Marcellus tells us quizlet?
What is “rotten in the state of Denmark,” as Marcellus tells us? The King is dead, his ghost has appeared and we also find out the Queen has married Claudius.
Why is Denmark corrupt in Hamlet?
Throughout the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, a corrupting disease plagues Denmark and the people within it. The incestuous marriage between Gertrude and Claudius, in addition to murdering King Hamlet, is the main example of deceit, corruption and evil.
What literary device is something is rotten in the state of Denmark?
In fact, when the ghost appears, Marcellus, one of the guards, is right in saying that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” 11. Foreshadowing: When Marcellus sees the ghost, he talks to Horatio and says that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”.
How did Denmark fall in Hamlet?
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet (/ˈhæmlɪt/), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare’s longest play, with 29,551 words.
| Hamlet | |
|---|---|
| Original language | Early Modern English |
| Genre | Shakespearean tragedy |
| Setting | Denmark |
What with my tongue in your tail?
Petruchio: What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, Good Kate; I am a gentleman.”
What does Hamlet make Horatio and Marcellus swear?
He first makes Horatio and Marcellus swear never to make known what they have seen. Then, on shifting his ground, he makes them swear never to speak of what they have heard. Then, moving again, he makes them swear that, if he should think fit to play the antic, they will give no sign of knowing aught of him.
Who says revenge his foul and most unnatural?
“Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder,” the Ghost instructs Hamlet, to which the loyal son replies, “Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift / As meditation or the thoughts of love, / May sweep to my revenge.” The Ghost is gratified by this response: “I find thee apt,” he says, “And duller shouldst thou
Who killed King Hamlet?
Claudius
Remember that Claudius killed King Hamlet by pouring poison into his ear. Shakespeare continually illustrates that words can function as poison in the ear as well.
Who is Marcellus in Hamlet?
Marcellus is a guard at Elsinore, Barnardo’s companion on the midnight round. With him, he witnesses the apparition of the ghost. He convinces Horatio to join them for the watch on the third night. He knows more about ghosts than Barnardo, and known to Hamlet.
What is rotten in the state of Denmark What do we learn about the situation in Scene 1?
In scene i, we learn about the ghost and that it resembles Hamlet Sr., the former king. By his appearance it appears that he is not exactly pleased about the whole situation but they can’t figure it out. In scene ii, we learn that Claudius has just married Gertrude and assumed the throne.
What happened between Norway and Denmark Why is Denmark preparing for war?
The reason that Denmark is preparing for war is because Norway is preparing to invade Denmark. Horatio explains this in the first scene of the play. He says that King Hamlet had killed Fortinbras (the King of Norway) in one-on-combat and taken territory from him.
Why did Ophelia go crazy?
Why does Ophelia go mad? Ophelia goes mad because her father, Polonius, whom she deeply loved, has been killed by Hamlet. In addition, Hamlet, whom she also loved, has cruelly rejected her.
What does the nation of Denmark think happened to King Hamlet?
Angry, depressed, spiteful. He does not agree with his mother’s quick marriage to his uncle so soon after his father’s death. Who is Claudius?Denmark believes that King Hamlet was killed by a snake but was poisoned by his brother is an example of what theme?
What is ironic about how Hamlet got back to Denmark?
Although it seems unlikely to us, Hamlet is returned to Denmark by pirates who apparently attack the ship he is on.When the pirate ship sails alongside Hamlet’s ship, he boards the pirate ship to escape. The pirates agree to help Hamlet; in return he is to do them “a good turn,” or favor.
How is corruption shown in Hamlet?
We find corruption mainly in the act of taking and planning the act of vengeance.The main source of corruption appears to be Hamlet’s opposition to Claudius. As becomes clear early in the play, Hamlet cannot accept Claudius, neither as father nor as king, even before the ghost reveals the circumstances of his death.
How do you learn in the first scene that something is wrong in Denmark?
Expert Answers
In the first act of Hamlet, we learn something is wrong in Denmark through both natural and supernatural means. Our first hint is seeing the ghost —in literature, ghosts don’t usually hang around castles when everything is just fine!
