Figurative In Hamlet

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In the first act and scene of the play “Hamlet”, William Shakespeare brings in the main theme of death and with it a dark winter scene in Denmark. Shakespeare takes factual and figurative uses in this scene and brings out this prominent issue of death within this scene. With the help of scenery, a dead ghost, and true death of characters, Shakespeare is effectively able to figuratively disclose about the theme of death.
Shakespeare begins the play by introducing us as readers to a Danish castle that overlooks the unknown. Furthermore, in terms of temperature, Francisco’s himself says “‘Tis bitter cold.’(8) Reading further into the scene, we understand that there is an incoming army from Norway that is ready to reclaim land lost under Hamlet Senior. Outside the castle walls lies a great unknown that is pitch black and with the possibility of war on the horizon. Figuratively, we can grasp that Shakespeare is taking this great dark unknown that the guards are over watching and introducing the aspect of death within it. Taking in the aspect that it is dark …show more content…
and Hamlet Sr’s battle alongside the takeover of Norway. However, with Hamlet Sr’s death and Fortinbras Jr’s battle to retake Norway and to fight Denmark, we see a confused Denmark at a time where citizens have no idea what is happening. We can figuratively analyze this to say that with Fortinbras Sr’s death in battle, Norway was taken over from Denmark and would have most probably led to some sort of confusion. Now with a dead Hamlet Sr’s, Denmark is in a similar situation. The citizen’s are confused about this new war that is incoming at any time as seen through Marcellus, who asks what is happening to Denmark at the moment. Real death is bound to bring confusion to the citizens, but we can contrast this to the ghost of Hamlet Sr. who comes back alive again. This resurrection increases the confusion and further pushes the boundaries of what death is in the time period of
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