“The Subject of the Land”: Marcellus in Hamlet

Marcellus, who speaks the famous line that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”, is a small but substantial role in Hamlet. His stage appearance is confined to the first act of the play, yet the details of the part and the character suggest both histrionic opportunities and interpretative demands. Marcellus relates powerfully to the action and ideas of the play as a whole in a more than instrumental way. In this article I offer a close reading of the early scenes of Hamlet in which Marcellus appears, suggesting some points at which actor and director are faced with choices in the interpretation of the role. Even for so small a part there are complexities in the immediate context of the action and in the relationships with other characters. I then undertake an assessment of the ‘character’ of Marcellus, discussing his significance in the play more generally: he relates to the vision and structure of the tragedy as both ready soldier and loyal “subject of the land”.