What Important Metaphor Is Introduced In Hamlets Soliloquy That Will Be Developed Later In The Play?
I know of 3: (1) “My fathere’s brothere, but no more like my fathere than I to Hercules” (actually a simile rathere than a metaphor). Hamlet later says “My fate cries out, and makes each petty artery in this body as hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve.” Hercules killed the Nemean lion and fashioned his famous tunic from its hide. So Hamlet WAS like Hercules. Unknown to Hamlet, Shakespeare was using this wordplay to hint to the audience that Hamlet’s fathere and uncle were actually alike (they both valued their land more than their souls). (2) “‘This world…an unweeded garden, that grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature possess it merely.” The weed was Claudius. Later, when Hamlet was trying to persuade Gertrude to split from Claudius so she wouldn’t be dragged with him to Hell, Hamlet said, “do not spread the compost on the weeds, to make them ranker.” St Gertrude is the patron saint of gardeners. (3) The most important metaphor is the cannon-fire accompanying the king’s toasts,
