audius, who killed the rightful king and incestuously married Gertrude. It corrupts Gertrude (in her agreement to this incestuous union), Ophelia (in her agreement to allow her father and Claudius to spy on her meeting with Hamlet), Laertes (who falls from honor by deciding to use treachery and poison to kill Hamlet), Hamlet (who is disabled by his indecision), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (who are induced to spy upon Hamlet, who is supposed to be their friend). Hope this helps.It is an incidental comment from a minor character which lays down, in the opening moments ofthe play, that which is to pin together all its aspects. Francisco the guard says, "I am sick at heart." Francisco's sick melancholy is faithful to the form which permeates the play -- unexplained,difficult to define, but with a clear sense of dread. And, typically, his expression of misgivings ismisinterpreted, perhaps even underestimated -- Barnardo, seeking palpable reasons forFrancisco's distraction, asks whether Francisco has had a quiet watch. Perhaps he wonders if theghost has disturbed Francisco. Whatever is ailing Fransciso remains secret, simply becoming apart of the anxious atmosphere. Throughout the play we can trace a progression of corruption in almost all of the main characters.We are constantly reminded of this decay through the imagery used. It is a significant point thatthe ghost, the only character that could arguably be termed an outside objector, and who iscertainly qualified to make some form of prophetic judgment, should be one of the prime sourcesof imagery of disease, poison and decay: "Upon my secure hour thy uncle stoleWith juice of cursed hebona in a vial,And in the porches of y ears did pourThe leperous distilment; whose effectHolds such an enmity with blood of manThat swift as quicksilver it courses throughThe natural gates and alleys of the body,And with a sudden vigour it doth possetAnd curd, like eager...
