Claudius’ Betrayal and Consumption of the Throne and Family

• Claudius’ murder of King Hamlet to seize the throne can be viewed as a form of figurative cannibalism. By killing his brother and marrying Gertrude, Claudius consumes not only the kingdom but also the family itself. His actions hollow out the royal family’s structure and morality. Claudius' ambition consumes the very foundations of Hamlet's world, driving the young prince toward madness and vengeance.

Hamlet’s Consuming Obsession with Revenge

• Hamlet’s fixation on avenging his father’s death consumes his identity, morality, and relationships. His single-minded pursuit of revenge leads him to alienate those closest to him, including Ophelia, whom he emotionally devastates. In a way, Hamlet’s quest for vengeance figuratively “devours” the humanity within him, as he becomes increasingly erratic and destructive.

Ophelia’s Destruction

• Ophelia is a victim of the figurative cannibalism in Hamlet. she is caught in the crossfire of the ambitions and manipulations of the men around her. Hamlet’s harsh treatment of Ophelia, combined with the political pressures from her father Polonius and brother Laertes, emotionally consumes her, leading to her eventual madness and death. Her innocence and autonomy are destroyed by the desires and actions of others and the patriarchal forces at play.

The Ghost as a Consuming Force

• The ghost of King Hamlet is another representation of figurative cannibalism, as it haunts and manipulates Hamlet to avenge his death. The ghost’s demands gradually consume Hamlet’s sense of self, eroding his ability to make moral decisions and driving him to increasing violence. The ghost’s presence leads Hamlet down a path of destruction, consuming not only his life but also the lives of many others, including Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, and Laertes.

Laertes’ Revenge Consumes Him

• Like Hamlet, Laertes is consumed by the desire for revenge after the death of his father Polonius and sister Ophelia. This obsession destroys his moral compass, leading him to collaborate with Claudius in a deadly plot against Hamlet. In the end, Laertes’ thirst for vengeance leads to his own demise, showcasing how the cycle of figurative cannibalism—of consuming and being consumed—leads to destruction for all involved.

Cannibalistic Imagery in Hamlet’s “Worm” Speech

• In Act 4, Scene 3, Hamlet gives his famous speech about worms and the cycle of consumption: “A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.” This speech reflects the physical and metaphorical consumption inherent in death, where the king’s body becomes food for worms, who are in turn eaten by men. This imagery ties back to the theme of figurative cannibalism, where power, death, and ambition cycle endlessly, with each act of destruction leading to another. (ouroboros)

“Funeral Baked Meats”: Cannibalism and Corpse Medicine in “Hamlet”

this paper discusses the connection between life, death and cuisine found in ‘hamlet’, the most prominent example being the ‘funeral baked meats’ as seen in the title. there is also reference to the corpse of king hamlet being associated with rotting food. it also explores the possibility that shakespeare was making his audience face the deeply problematic objectification and consumption of human flesh (mumia) in medicine.