Images in Hamlet The images in Hamlet's play are composed of disease, poison, and decay which add to the overall atmosphere of horror and tragedy. First, Hamlet uses images of disease to show the state of the Danish country and his mother. Secondly, the image of poison is used to describe his father's death. Finally, Hamlet describes his feelings towards himself and Claudius and his feelings towards his mother using images of decay. In Hamlet, as in all literature, images enhance the reader's ability to imagine the feeling of the story. In the first act of Hamlet, Hamlet uses images of illness to describe the state of Denmark. He is not satisfied with what has happened to the country. “There is something rotten in the state of Denmark.” He is describing how disgusted he is with his mother and how she sleeps with his uncle using sick imagery. “He will do nothing but peel and film the ulcerated place / While rancid corruption, undermining all within, infects unseen.” Illness imagery is a major factor in this story and is used in great quantity. It shows a feeling of disgust that Hamlet feels towards the surrounding situation in the play and in his life. The imagery of poison is used when the ghost describes the death of Hamlet's father in a way to disgust Hamlet and drive him to revenge. “…/ your uncle stole / with cursed ebona juice in a vile, / And in the porches of my ears he poured / The leprous distillate, the effect of which / Holds such enmity with the blood of man / … / And curd, as greedy excrement in milk, / … / with vile and loathsome crust / All my body smooth." The image of poison is used to express and induce a feeling of horror in the reader. Hamlet is obsessed with suicide and wants his skin to melt off because he is disgusted with himself. “Oh, if this too dirty flesh would melt, / Melt and resolve itself into dew…” This adds to the sense that the village is disturbed and getting worse. So he wants the king to die like a beggar and tear out his entrails. “Nothing but to show you how a king can progress / Through the bowels of a beggar.” This shows the effect that Hamlet is angry and disturbed adding a feeling of horror.