Many situations throughout Act 1 and Act 2 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet contain dramatic irony to intrigue the reader and increase tension. A significant example of dramatic irony occurs in Act 1 Scene 5 when the characters in the play believe that King Hamlet died from a snake bite; however, King Hamlet’s ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him. This incident manipulates the sympathies of the audience because the dramatic irony explains the true identities of the characters. After learning of the brutal murder that was possibly experienced by King Hamlet, an audience would sympathize with Hamlet. In the play, Hamlet feels pain for his loving and innocent father who did not deserve such a vicious death. The thought that his family has been ripped apart by his own blood causes Hamlet to be filled with sorrow and rage. This complex …show more content…
From the beginning of the play, Hamlet has experienced a deep sadness resulting from his mother’s hasty marriage and the death of his father. After Hamlet learns about King Hamlet’s true cause of death from the ghost, his sorrow and depression intensify and he develops anger. Hamlet is now experiencing a variety of conflicting emotions that he is forced to keep to himself. Hamlet is also experiencing uncertainty because the ghost of King Hamlet revealed this information to him. Hamlet is unsure if the ghost is truly a devil trying to deceive him during his unstable emotional state. This uncertainty develops Hamlet’s character because it convinces him to appear mad, in order to investigate the ghost’s proposition. In addition, dramatic irony develops the character of Claudius as well. The audience now knows that he may be a devious murderer that used violence to become king. On the outside, he appears diplomatic but if the ghost was being truthful about Claudius’ character, the audience can suspect that he is hiding his