In the opening act of the play corruption and poison play important roles in the setting and the resolution.
The theme of decay is observed in two places, the first in the opening scenes of the play when Francisco explains how he is depresses about the situation in Denmark “‘Tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart” (7). Secondly, corruption is seen when Marcellus explains that “there is something rotten in the state of Denmark” (55) as King Hamlet mysteriously dies while his brother takes over the throne and remarries the previous queen, Gertrude (Prince Hamlet's mother). The theme of poison is seen when the ghost of King Hamlet discloses to Hamlet that his brother, Claudius, killed him by pouring poison into his ears “With juice of cursed hebona in a vial, And in the porches of my ears did pour The leprous distillment, whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man” (59).
The themes of poison and corruption reveal themselves in Act 1 as King Hamlet is murdered through the use of poison and Queen Gertrude remarries Claudius only two months after King Hamlet’s death.
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