Question

Examine the theme of moral corruption in Hamlet and write an essay of about 200 words on the subject. Be sure to include examples of moments in the play when this theme is apparent, and state why it is one of the central themes of the play

Answer 1

Moral corruption is evident throughout Hamlet. The statement "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," made by Marcellus in act I scene IV, sums up the moral corruption in the play.

You may have used these other instances of moral corruption in your answer:

Claudius eyeing his brother’s wife, Queen Gertrude

Claudius murdering his brother

Claudius marrying his brother’s wife

Claudius and Gertrude attempting to convince Hamlet to move on from his father’s death and accept his stepfather

Polonius’ treatment of Ophelia and his willingness to do the bidding of Claudius

Prince Hamlet plotting to kill his uncle Claudius

Prince Hamlet abusing his mother and calling her promiscuous

Hamlet killing Polonius instead of Claudius

Claudius ordering the king of England to put his nephew, Hamlet, to death

Claudius poisoning Laertes's sword before his duel with Hamlet

Hamlet stabbing Claudius

the death of all the morally corrupt characters of the play (Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, Claudius, Gertrude, and even Rosencrantz and Guildenstern), which may mean that corruption will lead to death

You may also have used quotes from the play similar to the one below, in which Hamlet laments his mother’s sudden marriage to his uncle:

O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason,

Would have mourn'd longer—married with my uncle,

My father's brother…

Step-by-step explanation:

Sample Answer

Answer 2

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet the theme of moral corruption that happens between Hamlet’s family and the family’s hostility led to their ultimate demise. A quote from Hamlet is a good example of moral corruption "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Comparing the country to a diseased body, the statement perfectly expresses how political corruption permeates Hamlet's environment and how his uncle's ascent to the throne through the death of his own brother is its root cause. The term "rotten" is used in a metaphorical sense to compare the condition of a political body to that of a living being that has rotted. Another example of moral corruption is Claudius character traits. His brother, King Hamlet, is married to Queen Gertrude. Who is which Claudius has feelings for so he kills his brother then marries his brother’s wife, Gertrude.

“O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason,

Would have mourn'd longer—married with my uncle,

My father's brother…”

Queen Gertrude and Claudius try to get Prince Hamlet to get over his father’s death. They want Prince Hamlet to respect and accept Claudius as his step father. Prince Hamlet is engaged to Ophelia and her father Polonius. The way Polonius treats Ophelia and his eagerness to comply with Claudius. But Hamlet plans to kill his uncle, Claudius, in the mix of it Hamlet mistreats his mother and calls her “promiscuous.” Rather than killing uncle Claudius he kills Polonius, so Claudius avenges Polonius by ordering Hamlet to be condemned to death. Hamlet and Polonius’s son, Laertes, have a duel but Claudius gives the advantage to Laertes by positioning his sword. Hamlet ends up stabbing Claudius. All in all, the characters’ death was led by their moral corruption.

Step-by-step explanation:

I wrote this it has the sample answers in it but reworded ofc