Diction

“To be or not to be that is the question.” So begins one of the most famous monologues in the whole of Shakespeare’s portfolio. The monologue did not win fame purely by chance. It is a deep, moving monologue that is written with such eloquence that a simple speech helps to convey several of the central themes behind the play. If a few words were replaced with others which could easily serve the same purpose, the monologue would have easily lost all of its strength.

Imagery

In Hamlet, imagery of disease, poison and decay, are used by Shakespeare for a purpose. The descriptions of disease, poison, and decay help us understand the bitter relationships that exist in the play and Hamlet’s own cynicism. We see Hamlet’s pessimism in his soliloquy when he contemplates suicide. The resentful relationship that exists between Claudius and Hamlet is heightened with the use of imagery when Claudius asks about Polonius.

Theme

The notion of avenging the wrongful killing of another was one commonly recognized in Elizabethan times and Hamlet takes this concept to extremes. Hamlet must seek vengeance for his father's murder. This becomes his sole purpose and he seems to forget all other aspects of his life, even his love for Ophelia. His actions become inconsequential to him, even though they mean the ruining of his own life. During his quest for revenge, he accidentally murders his lover's father, Polonius, sparking Polonius' son Laertes to seek vengeance against him. A circle of retribution with Laertes begins, as he teams-up with Claudius to avenge Polonius and Ophelia while Claudius is also anxious to be rid of the  Prince. If for every murder someone must die the vicious cycle would never end. This is a notion that Shakespeare may have been commenting upon in the writing of Hamlet.