1. First, type out the passage: “This most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof, fretted with golden fire—why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors” (2.2.322-326).

2. Second, paraphrase the passage and explain its purpose and context. The fresh air all around us and the beautiful sky, like a roof with beams of sunlight, seems to me to be just a mass of disgusting, toxic gases. Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he has been unhappy lately, and he explains his unhappiness by telling them that the Earth’s air and sky, which keep him alive and which are normally considered beautiful, seem ugly and unpleasant to him.

3. Finally, explain how rot and corruption are being used by the speaker. Hamlet is so unhappy (about the death of his father and about the marriage of his mother to his uncle) that even his surroundings no longer seem pleasant. Here rot and corruption (of the air and sky) are a result of Hamlet’s inner state. He realizes that the sky and air haven’t changed, but he admits to his friends that they seem different to him now. Hamlet uses the idea of rot and corruption as a metaphor to explain his mood to his friends.

4. Typed passage: Speaker and quote: King Claudius: “…since I am still possess’d / Of those effects for which I did the murder— / My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. / May one be pardoned and retain the offense? / In the corrupted currents of this world / Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice; / And oft ‘tis seen the wicked prize itself / Buys out the law” (3.3.57-64).

5. Paraphrase and Context King Claudius is attempting to pray for forgiveness for the murder of his brother, the late King Hamlet. He can’t do so, though, because he is still enjoying all of the benefits that he received for the murder—he is still king, still married to Gertrude. He points out that on corrupt Earth, a person can get away with a serious crime as long as the person is rich and powerful. In fact, the results of the crime itself (like becoming king) can hold off retribution for the crime; Claudius became king by murdering his brother, and because he is king, no one can go after him for the murder.

6. Discussion of Corruption Claudius himself calls this corruption. Justice is not perfect on Earth. He is talking about political corruption (whereas Hamlet is often talking about a more personal corruption, the idea that all people are gross, driven by filthy instinct). Though Hamlet’s emphasis might be different, both Hamlet and Claudius would agree that the world is a place where evil occurs and sometimes goes unpunished.