Garden Motif

Garden's are an ongoing symbol of temptation and downfall - as given to us in an example of the Garden of Eden from the bible. Adam and Eve's human downfall occurred in the "Garden of Eden" when they were tempted by the Devil. This closely relates to Hamlet because of the relationship between Gertrude and Claudius and how their marriage caused a downfall in the whole state of Denmark. When Ophelia was handing out the flowers to those around her, it was symbolic to the death and decay of Denmark, and those most important in it. She gives each person a flower symbolic to what they have done throughout the play. Ophelia is said to have gone crazy by this point in the play, so it is also known to be a symbol of the decay of her own mind and sanity. The garden itself is supposed to be something that is beautiful and prestige, and by the end of the play the "garden" has faded away and decayed into something treacherous and unlawful. When the garden was beautiful and lively it was a symbol of how their lives were in Denmark before King Hamlet's murder. After the murder the garden "dies" the characters die because of the sin and human downfall that they have all experienced, such as Claudius killing King Hamlet, marrying Gertrude, and than trying to kill Prince Hamlet.