Poison is a recurring symbol in the play that appears in various scenes specifically when the ghost appears. The ghost explains to the young Hamlet the henbane is poured into the ears of Old Hamlet to kill him. This poison killed him instantly, blocking his blood.

Hebenon (or hebona) is a botanical substance described in William Shakespeare 's tragic play Hamlet. The identity and nature of the poison has been a source of speculation for centuries.

The metaphorical use of poison is evident with the play’s central character Hamlet. He is poisoned by the news that Claudius killed his father, filling him with the burning desire of vengeance towards him. His actions are also manipulative because his quest to avenge his father blinds him into rejecting Ophelia.

In Shakespeare's renowned play, Hamlet, poison emerges as a powerful symbol that permeates the plot and the characters' lives. While the literal presence of poison is evident in the play, it also functions as a metaphor for corruption, deceit, and the destructive nature of revenge.