Hamlet Denotative Analysing

Hamlet speaks to his mother and shows her the portrait of his dead father and the one of his father's brother(his uncle) who is now the new king.

Hamlet wants to draw his mother's attention on the qualities and virtues of his dead father. He compares him with Greek divinities: Hyperion, Jove, Mars and Mercury. For each part of the portrait he associates a metaphor. So Hamlet gives significance and relevance to his father (his father's body and personality).

After that he shows to his mother the portrait of her new husband: his uncle.

Hamlet criticezes him and asks his mother how she can stay with such a low and despicable person.