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How Does Laertes Use Literary Devices

601 Words3 Pages

In this act Laertes is giving his sister advice on how she should act around men, more specifically Hamlet. In this quotation literary devices are used by Laertes to exaggerate the theme of a gender stereotypes that is strongly presented between them as siblings. Laertes uses imagery to help Ophelia view how easy it is for a women to lose her chaste reputation in their society. Laertes uses this literary device when he says "unmask her beauty to the moon. / Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes" (1. 3. 37-38). Laertes is describing how women are easily judged over small actions they do which leads to a loss of their positive reputation within their social order. Throughout the quotation and their entire conversation Laertes continues to use literary devices to emphasize his beliefs about how Ophelia should act. …show more content…

. . lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open, / To his unmastered importunity” (1. 3. 31-32). Laertes uses a treasure chest to symbolize Ophelia’s virginity as something to protect and hold sacred, and to hide away from Hamlet and other men so that he cannot steal it from her in an irresponsible manner. Making her chastity seem much more important than Hamlet's and to reduce the significance of Hamlets possible future actions. Laertes uses imagery and symbolism to convey his belief in the importance of a female’s virginity and their reputation in society. This quote clearly states the theme of gender stereotype between men and women, and is more strongly stated through Laertes use of literary

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