The Restoration of Moral Order in Hamlet.

Essay by pat870High School, 12th gradeA, January 2004

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The Restoration of Moral Order in Hamlet

The fabric of every society relies on a set of laws, morals and ethics. When these aspects of a "good society" are corrupted, disorder ensues. A play which examines the result of a corrupted state is William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. The audience immediately witnesses the corrupted nature of the play when early on in the story a character observes, " Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."(1.4. 99) In the Elizabethan era it was believed the king was directly appointed by God. This is known as the divine right of kings. When the divine order of kings is broken by unlawful means, the natural order is ruined, and this leads to a state if corruption. The moral order is upset when the king, Old Hamlet is murdered. Old Hamlet's murder upsets the divine right of kings and Denmark finds itself in a state of corruption.

However the moral order is restored at the conclusion of Hamlet because political corruption is ended, justice is served, and the divine right of kings is restored.

Political corruption can be a reoccurring problem in society. There have been many corrupt politicians, and rulers throughout time. In the play Hamlet, political corruption is a central theme, and the plot revolves around political corruption in the state of Denmark. This political corruption leads to moral order being destroyed. In order for moral order to be restored, political corruption be brought to an end. Polonius is a prime example of corruption in the state. For that reason Hamlet feels as if he must kill Polonius in order for corruption to end. After Hamlet unremorsefully kills Polonius he says," Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell!/ I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune. / Thou find'st to be too...