“in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Tragic Events That Beset the Royal Family Are Intricately Interwoven with the Well-Being of the State.” Discuss.

In Hamlet, Shakespeare cleverly incorporates two storylines, the tragic events that plague the royal family, and the demise of the Danish state. To what extent are these interrelated? The collapse of the monarchy had the obvious consequence of making Denmark politically weak, leaving the nation vulnerable to invasion. Additionally, there are many examples throughout the play of how the actions and perceptions of individual characters are symbolically representative of the fate of the state as a whole. There is therefore both a consequential and symbolic link between the tragic occurrences within the royal family and the fall of Denmark.

As the royal family was overrun by treachery, it was difficult for those in powerful political positions (eg. The King) to make rational decisions over issues concerning the state of Denmark, as their attention was constantly being focused on internal matters. For example, the King desperately tried to arrange for Hamlet to be killed by ordering Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to deliver a letter to England demanding his execution, mostly in fear of the truth over King Hamlet’s death being uncovered. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Army under the command of young Fortinbras, who was unswayed by the more diplomatic style of leadership his bed-ridden father was said to have shown, continued its conquest of Denmark. If the time spent squabbling over internal matters had been spent in diplomatic negotiations with neighbouring powers, or in the planning of preventative military action then Fortinbras’ invasion may have been possible to stop. It can therefore be said that the events that occurred within the royal family had a noticeable negative effect on the well-being of the state as a whole.

The corruption that plagued the royal family presented an image of political weakness, leaving Denmark vulnerable to invasion.

“Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest.”

The ghost’s thoughts on such...