Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in ca. 1600. In Hamlet, corruption is such a prevalent and growing theme that it branches out into the lives of many important people of Denmark. Corruption is an epidemic disease that grows and spreads, killing the people who surrounding it. Claudius, Hamlets uncle and King of Denmark, use corruption that leads to many disastrous events and in the end, results in a negative outcome for the people involved. The people of Denmark as well as the Hamlet and Polonius family are affected by Claudiuss corrupted ways.
To begin with, the people of Denmark are affected by Claudius corrupted ways. First of all, Francisco, a guard for the king, believes Denmark is sick at heart (I.I.8) because of King Hamlets sudden death. Now that Claudius is king, the disease of corruption will plague over Denmark. Secondly, Marcellus believes something is rotten in the State of Denmark. (I.IV.90) With King Hamlet dead, the decay of the morality of Denmark begins as well. Lastly, the Ghost of King Hamlet demands that Hamlet avenge his death in order to rid Denmark of the foul corruption. The Ghost wants Claudius to die because the Ghost died without the benefit of confession. As a result, the people of Denmark who remain loyal to Prince Hamlet want Claudius to be rid of the title of king.
Furthermore, the Polonius family are affected by Claudiuss corrupted ways. First of all, Polonius, an elderly Lord Chamberlain, turns from an honourable official into a corrupted politician. Throughout Hamlet, Poloniuss character is someone who looks out for his own interest; therefore, he will do anything for King Claudius in order to keep his position. For example, Polonius offers to arrange a meeting between his daughter, Ophelia, and Hamlet so he and Claudius can eavesdrop on their conversation. Claudius applauds the idea calling Polonius a faithful and honourable [official]. (II.II.128) Poloniuss idea does not serve him well as he is dies trying to spy on Hamlet. Secondly, Ophelia, Poloniuss daughter, goes mad because of Claudiuss corruption. Ophelia, who suffered an emotional collapse, drowns herself following her fathers sudden death trying to serve Claudius. Lastly, Laertes, son of Polonius, plots to kill Hamlet in order to avenge the death of his father and sister. Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet is the one that murdered his father; Claudius does so in order for Laertes to kill Hamlet. Claudius abuses his powers even more as he manipulating Laertes to duel with Hamlet with a poisoned sword. In the end, Laertes dies from his own poisoned sword and reveals to Hamlet that it was Claudiuss plot to kill him. As a result, the Polonius family all suffered miserable deaths because of Claudiuss corruption.
To end with, the Hamlet family are affected by Claudiuss corrupted ways. First of all, Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark, marries Claudius on the belief that King Hamlet died naturally. Gertrude is known for being an incestuous, adulterate beast (I.V.43) that cannot control her sexual desire. Claudius uses it to his advantage by brainwashing her sexually in order to marry him, believe that King Hamlet died naturally and betray her son, Hamlet. Claudius's love for Gertrude
may be sincere, but Claudius married her as a strategic move, to help him win the throne away from Hamlet after the death of King Hamlet. Claudius does such an excellent job, that Gertrude believes her son is an insane man. Yet, Claudiuss corruption gets the better of him as she dies from a cup of poison intended for Hamlet. Secondly, Hamlet, the son of King Hamlet, is outraged and confused to find his father dead, his mother married to Claudius, and Claudius the newly self-proclaimed King. Hamlet becomes ferocious to the knowledge that Claudius kills his father by pouring yew sap in his ear. Claudius did so in order to gain access to the throne because he is at the top of the list of King Hamlets Line of Succession. Hamlet is convinced that he must kill Claudius in order to avenge his fathers foul and most unnatural murder. (I.V.25) Hamlet carefully plans the killing so that Claudius will go to hell in order for his father to be at peace. In addition, Hamlet is the only character in the play that knows the truth of his fathers death but is condemned by Claudius as a madman that [must] not go unwatched.(III.I.190) Therefore, Claudiuss royal servants and his wife, Gertrude, are convinced that Hamlet is an insane man whose words cannot be trusted. Claudius abuses his power even more by sending Hamlets school friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to escort Hamlet to England to have him killed. In the end, Claudiuss corruption gets the better of him as he is killed by his own poison that Hamlet inflected on him but Hamlet is also killed by the same poison. As a result, Claudiuss corruption has lead to the Hamlets death.
Corruption is disease that has murdered many innocent people. Corruption started off as a greedy man doing whatever it takes to gain access to the throne, yet it led to the deaths of him, the queen, Hamlet and the Polonius family. With Claudius died, peace is finally restored to the State of Denmark.
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