“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”

What is rotten we may wonder? Marcellus mentions this line after witnessing Hamlet running toward the ghost without the certainty of the ghost being his father or just an evil spirit. Being in a presence of a ghost is never a good thing. Ghosts are spirits that cannot rest in peace because they have unfinished business on earth. Their unfinished business causes them to linger around amongst the living.  The readers and audiences know that the ghost solemnly wants to speak with Hamlet, and we can suspect what it is about. These lines pronounced by Marcellus makes the readers be on high alert because we as readers know that something bad is about to happen. That “something” is mentioned in Marcellus line. Marcellus is worried because there is no knowledge of if the ghost is indeed Hamlet’s father, and of what he will tell the emotional fragile Hamlet. The fact that the ghost came back is not a good sign; because he will disturb the peace when he reveals something knows. The fact that the ghost did not want to speak in the presence of Marcellus and Francesco reinforces Horatio’s fear.

The second interpretation that we can give to this line is that the “something “mentioned by Marcellus in this line can be a direct reference to the incest that is being committed by Gertrude and Claudius. This betrayal is something that is unforgivable, it smells like dirt, and a king is dead. The unnatural death of the king is upsetting the change of being. This change will affect the whole kingdom; because what has been disturbed needs to be put back in place.  Therefore, the state of Denmark will never be the same again. The garbage has to be taken out since “something” has grown to rot. If it is rotten it means that this incest has been going on for a long time behind Hamlet senior’s back. There is no turning back since Gertrude and Claudius married and Hamlet senior is dead. This death can be seen as the catalyst to something dramatic that will change Denmark.

Why is this statement important in the play? It can be seen as the thesis of the following events. This phrase highlights the scenery of the play; the fact that everybody is being careful by not trusting their surroundings. The espionage that is going on in the play shows exactly how nobody is worth trusting. Hamlet goes as far as putting an antic- disposition just to mask his plan. The “something” that is rotten that Marcellus is referring to in this line can also be the state of minds of two characters Claudius and Gertrude especially Claudius. These two characters feel guilt toward Hamlet. Their actions, their betrayal is the “something” that is rotten. Claudius fears to be unmasked by Hamlet. Hamlet can smell this guilt that has been rotten for quite sometimes now, and it is Hamlet job to put an end to this guilt by exposing Claudius betrayal. 

Melanie