The imagery of decay is used to help comprehend the depression Hamlet feels in his first soliloquy about suicide. "O that this too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew," (I;ii, 129-130) Hamlet is basically communicating that he wishes not to exist in this world anymore. He wants to die and be apart of the ground. An image of Hamlet’s flesh, rotting, combining with the soil is produced. At this moment we can grasp Hamlet’s true emotions. We feel his pain and his yearn for death. Hamlet continues to say "How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable/ Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on’t, ah, fie, ‘tis an unweede

Claudius’ relationship with Hamlet is dreadful. Claudius has a great hatred for his nephew and feels his life is at risk, by Hamlet. "But like the owner of a foul disease. To keep it from divulging let it feed/ Even on the pith of life,"(IV; i, 21-23) This is spoken by Claudius, when he is with the queen, after the death of Polonius. The King says that he is the owner of a foul disease, which is Hamlet. He feels that he must keep Hamlet hidden to avoid embarrassment and others’ scorn. Claudius compares Hamlet to a disease, in such a way that as wretched and disgusting as it may be,it should be kept from the public. We can see that he despises Hamlet greatly and won’t allow him to ruin his life. This shows us how endless Claudius' hatred is towards Hamlet. Claudius' extreme anger and frustration is displayed when he says, "For like the hectic in my blood he rages, And though must cure me."(IV;iii, 62-63) Claudius describes Hamlet as a vicious disease travelling in his own blood. Hamlet is so deep in the midst of Claudius’ pure distaste for him, that he wants Hamlet dead. When Hamlet is gone, then and only then, Claudius can be cured from the atrocious disease that he suffers terribly from. The images of disease express the genuine feelings felt by Claudius. Imagery highlights the poor, horrid relationship that exists between father and stepson. Shakespeare illuminates Claudius' true sentiment with the imagery

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