Bitter Images in Hamlet In Hamlet, the images of disease, poison and decay are used by Shakespeare for a purpose. The descriptions of disease, poison, and decay help us understand the bitter relationships that exist in the play and Hamlet's cynicism. We see Hamlet's pessimism in his soliloquy when he contemplates suicide. The resentful relationship that exists between Claudius and Hamlet is accentuated by the use of imagery when Claudius asks about Polonius. The images increase Claudius' dislike of Hamlet. Shakespeare uses imagery in this play to deepen our understanding of the emotions experienced. The images of decay are used to help understand the depression Hamlet feels in his first soliloquy about suicide. "Oh, that this too dirty flesh would melt, melt and resolve itself into dew," (I; ii, 129-130). Hamlet is basically communicating that he wishes to no longer exist in this world. He wants to die and be separated from the earth. An image is produced of Hamlet's flesh, rotting, combining with the ground. In this moment we can grasp Hamlet's true emotions. We feel his pain and his desire for death. Hamlet continues to say, "How tired, stale, flat and useless / All the uses of this world seem to me! Shame, ah, dizziness, it is a weedless garden / That grows to seed. Things are foul and disgusting in nature /Just own it.” (I;ii, 133-137) Here, Hamlet says that the reason he wants to commit suicide is that he hates the world he lives in. He feels that the world around him is useless and in disorder. We can understand the real motivation for his suicide. Shakespeare allows us to peer into Hamlet's soul by creating these vivid images. Claudius's relationship with Hamlet is fantastic... middle of paper... underlines the pessimism of Hamlet's life. The imagery is also used significantly in portraying the bitter emotions that exist between Hamlet and Claudius. When Claudius asks Hamlet where Polonius is, we see the bad relationship with the help of imagery. As Claudius recognizes Hamlet's behavior and madness, he reveals the anger he feels towards Hamlet. In Hamlet's soliloquy, referring to suicide, the images show us his dark feelings. In Hamlet we truly see what a wealth of profound imagery he provides us with. The images of disease, poison, and decay give us the chance to truly understand the true emotions the characters experience in their minds and souls. With the images created by Shakespeare, we readers can actually understand the feelings felt by the characters in Hamlet, which are not always obvious but important.