Hamlet's Office Supply Store

Gertrude can be characterized with a ruler because she's queen of Denmark. Her new husband, Claudius, also doesn't measure up to her first husband, King Hamlet. She can also be related to scissors since she cuts ties with King Hamlet by remarrying. She is also spoken to with daggers by her son, Hamlet. Despite partially causing the whole tragedy, Gertrude never wanted families to fall apart. She wanted the families to combine through what would have been Hamlet's and Ophelia's marriage, like papers held together by a paper clip. This is shown through the quote: "I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife; I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, and not have strew'd thy grave." 

Ophelia could be portrayed as a post-it note because she stuck to the rules. She responded to Polonius' every command, saying "I shall obey, my lord," even though she was being used. Ophelia also got hung up on Hamlet. Also, like a paper post-it note, Ophelia can easily rip and break. Just like the branch, Ophelia's mind and heart broke. Her love for Hamlet can also be symbolized by a stapler. She desired to stay attached to him, even though he hurt her, as if a staple was driven through her heart.

Laertes can be represented by a pencil, since he was away at school for most of the play because his "thoughts and wishes bend again toward France." He also wanted to erase Hamlet off the face of the earth. By planning to kill him, Laertes was writing out and controlling Hamlet's fate. He can also be seen as a ruler, since he led a rebellion against the palace. This refers to how violent Laertes is, as if he's like sharp scissors. Laertes was only vengeful because he loved his family and was attached to them (paper clip).