The effect of Hamlet's
joking about death and worms is that Hamlet was like suggesting that Claudius
will before long die and join Polonius, asking him if he would like for a
messenger to be sent to find him in heaven or go to hell himself and seek for
Polonius there. By the act of suggesting that he go to hell to find him is like
saying that he shall soon join him and/or that Hamlet believes he actually
belongs there with his counsellor.
