Write a short note on Shakespeare’s use of imagery with particular reference to Hamlet. [British Drama (2018-19) Assignment 1]

Shakespeare was a master of using imagery to enhance the emotional impact of his plays. In Hamlet, he makes use of a wide range of visual, auditory, and olfactory imagery to convey the mood and tone of the play.

One of the most striking examples of Shakespeare's use of imagery in Hamlet is the recurring image of disease and corruption. From the very beginning of the play, there are references to the "rotten" state of Denmark, and Hamlet himself is described as feeling "sick at heart." This imagery of sickness and decay runs throughout the play, and serves to highlight the moral and political corruption that is at the heart of the story.

Another key image in Hamlet is the use of darkness and light. Hamlet is often associated with darkness and shadows, and his soliloquies are filled with references to the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" that threaten to engulf him. At the same time, there are moments of light and hope in the play, such as the appearance of the ghost of Hamlet's father. The contrast between light and darkness serves to highlight the themes of life and death, hope and despair, that are central to the play.

Shakespeare also makes use of vivid and specific imagery throughout Hamlet, from the "inky cloak" that Hamlet wears to the "dew of youth" that is shed on Ophelia's funeral. These images serve to bring the characters and the world of the play to life, and make the emotional impact of the story all the more powerful.

Overall, Shakespeare's use of imagery in Hamlet is a masterclass in the power of language to evoke emotion and convey complex ideas. From the imagery of sickness and decay to the contrast between light and darkness, Shakespeare's use of imagery helps to create a world that is vivid, complex, and deeply affecting.