Hamlet Corruption Quotes

But to my mind, – though I am native here
And to the manner born, – it is a custom
More honour’d in the breach than the observance.

– William Shakespeare

Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 4. Hamlet is talking about the King’s drinking party, during which he will stay up late carousing, dancing and drinking German wine. The prince feels that the custom of the Danes drinking excessively is one they would be better off abandoning than observing. The passage suggests an air of corruption hanging over the royal palace of Elsinore.

‘Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth,
The serpent that did sting thy father’s life
Now wears his crown.

– William Shakespeare

Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5. The Ghost reveals to Hamlet that his uncle Claudius murdered Hamlet’s father, by poisoning him while he was asleep. He invokes Biblical imagery from the Book of Genesis here, comparing Claudius to the snake in the garden of Eden that caused Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. The people of Denmark have been led to believe that King Hamlet was killed by a poisonous snake bite, this is the biggest lie of all in Hamlet and told so that Claudius could have the crown and Queen and not pay any consequences. The Ghost exposes the falseness and hypocrisy of King Claudius’ court at Elsinore.

I have of late – but wherefore I know not – lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.

– William Shakespeare

Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2. Hamlet to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on the depression that has afflicted him since the death of his father. The glorious earth, excellent air, beautiful sky, golden sun, are not what they appear to be. To him they they are foul diseased vapors – a reference to the corruption and rotting morality in Denmark.

What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though, by your smiling, you seem to say so.

– William Shakespeare

Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2. A melancholic Hamlet is not seeing seeing the world and people as others do. He begins by saying that there so much beauty in a human, a masterpiece with unlimited abilities, angelic in action, godlike in understanding. That’s the appearance. To him in reality humans are just a "quintessence of dust." He feels betrayed a number of people close to him, who are not what they seem to be. He doesn’t trust Claudius, his mother, Polonius, he knows Ophelia is likely being used as a pawn against him, and "friends" Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are spying on him for the King.

Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots: your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service – two dishes, but to one table: that’s the end.

– William Shakespeare

Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 3. When Claudius asks where Polonius is at supper, Hamlet makes this reply admitting that Polonius is dead, but in a roundabout way. He uses vulgar, graphic imagery of death and decay, saying the corpse of Polonius is now a feast for worms. And he speaks of the democracy of death, with rich and poor, high and low, ending up as dishes at the same meal.
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