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Irony
Definition of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor can be stated explicitly, as... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other... read full definition
Metaphors
Explanation and Analysis—Unweeded Garden:
Near the beginning of the play, however, Hamlet gives the audience insight into his perspective through figurative language. In Hamlet's first soliloquy (which is in Act 1, Scene 2), he uses an illuminating metaphor, saying: "’Tis an unweeded garden / That gros to seed. Things rank and gross in nature / Possess it merely." In this dejected monologue, Hamlet reflects on the events that have recently taken hold of Elsinore. He speaks metaphorically about an "unweeded garden" to illustrate the type of misdeeds that he perceives in those around him.
Related Themes:
Act 1, Scene 5
Explanation and Analysis—The Serpent Bite:
In Act 1, Scene 5, after isolating Hamlet from the others on the battlements, the ghost reveals the true cause of his death. This is a very significant moment in the play because it sets Hamlet on the course of revenge, which is ultimately his downfall. However, the ghost discloses his information without explicitly mentioning Claudius by name or indicating the exact nature of the crime. Instead, he uses a metaphor to reveal his killer’s identity and give Hamlet the context for the deed. He says:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The serpent that did sting thy father’s life
Now wears his crown.
Act 3, Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Undiscovered Country:
In Hamlet’s most famous soliloquy, which takes place in Act 3, Scene 1, he reflects on the relationship between living and dying. Hamlet expresses his base level of exhaustion and lists his perceptions of the world: how difficult and unjust it is, how his frustration with its corruption and brutality lessens his desire to continue. It is one of many instances where Hamlet talks about death in a way that is framed by both his desire and his fear. In this soliloquy, he uses a metaphor for death that helps him reckon with his situation. He says:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns.
Related Themes:
