... an infectious root for corruption, further expounded as Marcellus illustrates with visual imagery "something is rotten in the state of Denmark." The state of dystopian Denmark sets the tone and melancholic mood for the entirety of the play, Shakespeare's timing of establishing the play in the opening acts as "rotten" and "unweeded" serves as ... at the timing of his mother's marriage by comparing her to "a beast" and negating Gertrude's initial grief as "unrighteous tears." Shakespeare uses juxtaposition to contrast Hamlet's feelings of disgust and inadequacy with Gertrude's sudden hap...

• Word Count: 782
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate