HAMLET’S MADNESS v. SARCASM As we read the famous Shakespearean playwright “Hamlet”, there are a few situations we analyze and seem to find connections between the event in the play and real life events. For starters, we could make a comparison between Hamlet’s madness and sarcasm. Both are concepts that utilize the habits of minds in order to fully understand the play.
In Act 2, Scene 2, a theatrical troupe arrives at the castle to perform a speech from Aeneid. Impressed with the player’s performance, Hamlet asks that the player act out a short speech he has written for the next day. Once alone, Hamlet undergoes an introspection that sheds light to his cowardly disposition. The soliloquy is divided into three sections: problem, cause, and resolution. Through his initial self-condemnation for being passive, Hamlet realizes the essence of his internal struggle and devises a plan to take action without having to go against his true nature.
“I wasn’t originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind.” Puns, or play on words, occur when the creator of said pun captures multiple definitions of the same word, or similar sounding word, in the same sentence. The first sentence is a prime example of a pun because the creator of the pun incorporated the phrase of “I changed my mind,” meaning to change decision, and the literal definition of a brain. This pun, like so many others, may elicit comedy from viewers and is used as a form of comedic relief in many ways. One play in particular includes a plethora of puns in its numerous lines, and that play is A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare.
In the ever changing world of literature, one play stands the test and that is William Shakespeare's Hamlet. This dramatic, thrilling, tragic play tells the story of a “young prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who is seeking vengeance for his father’s murder.” () The storyline itself is able to grasp the reader, and take them alongside Hamlet as he slowly takes down his enemies and uncovers the secrets, betrayal, and scheming nature of his family. Aside from the storyline, what makes this play great is the monologues, as well as dialogues between characters. Shakespeare incorporates an array of vivid imagery, metaphors, and exquisite vocabulary to make known the passion and heart behind every single character.
1) In Hamlet, pouring poison in a person’s ear had both a literal and symbolic significance. The literal meaning is that they are telling lies to people in order to deceive them. They are pouring poison or “poisonous” words into that person’s ear. The symbolic meaning of pouring poison in a person’s ear can be associated with the symbolic meaning of the snake in the story of Adam and Eve where the snake lures Eve in through lies. The characters in Hamlet were misled in the same way because they had poison poured into their ears.
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Shakespeare uses range of literary techniques such as soliloquies to express Hamlet’s depression and anger. Hamlet’s emotions play a crucial role to achieve his secret ambitions. Events such as King Hamlet’s death, Hamlet’s mother’s expeditious marriage, conflict between Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet’s depression and anger is expressed throughout the play but what are the causes. The root of Hamlet’s feelings of depression and anger was his father’s death.
In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Hamlet angrily confronts his mother Gertrude in a poignant monologue, begging her to look in the mirror and reflect on her relationships with Claudius and King Hamlet. This monologue displays Hamlet’s inner feelings, as he desperately attempts to communicate the range of emotions that lay behind his rage surrounding Gertrude’s decision to marry Claudius: sadness, grief, and fear. By utilizing the elements such as allusion, figurative language, and tone, Shakespeare conveys Hamlet’s complex emotional and mental turmoil to his mother and the audience. One of the literary devices Shakespeare uses to display Hamlet’s complex emotions is allusions. In lines 4-6, Hamlet alludes to Roman gods, exclaiming “Hyperion's
The Kingdom of Denmark had just suffered the death of a great King and leader. King Hamlet was a father to the people of Denmark. Some of the citizens fully believed that Hamlet Jr. should be king because it passed down the lineage. Others believed that Claudius should be king because he was the brother of Hamlet and now the husband of Queen Gertrude. King Claudius says, "This ough yet of Hamlet our dear brother 's death
In the soliloquy, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, allusions are made and Greek mythology is frequently referenced. Shakespeare mentions Hyperion, satyrs, Niobe, and Hercules, and all of these references assist in further developing the characters. FINISH INTRO Shakespeare includes references to Hyperion and satyrs. His choice to pair these two references together was no accident. Hyperion, the father of the sun, the moon, and the dawn, represents beauty, for some of the most beautiful things on earth are represented.
Shakespeare’s use of language helps to portray the major theme of deception in the play Hamlet. The utilization of diction helps to equate Claudius to an evil person, while metaphors help to make the comparison between Claudius and a deathly animal. By making comparisons and using specific word choice that help support the theme, Shakespeare is able to portray the deceitful antics of King
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a profound play that has withstood the test of time. Its intricate exploration of betrayal, revenge, existential angst, and the quest for truth have captivated audiences since its conception during the turn of the 17th century. At the heart of Hamlet lies a legion of classical allusions, with references to Ancient Rome and its legacy playing an important role in creating the narrative and thematic depth of the play that makes it so renowned. Shakespeare's education at the Stratford grammar school, as with most Elizabethan education, most likely consisted of “an intense emphasis on the Latin classics, including memorization, writing, and acting classic Latin plays”. His attendance at this school up until about
Hamlet’s depression inhibits his obsession for vengeance due to his inability to take action. Hamlet has suffered emotional trauma and often uses sarcasm to mask his pain. He pokes fun at the situations he’s faced with
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is easily considered one of his top plays. It is written as a tragedy but is full of subtle and persistent comedy. Shakespeare uses humor for many different reasons in his plays. It is used as a device to distract the audience away from the constant tragedy and dark plot turns that are throughout the play.
Jan-Erik Aavik IB English HL B. Raid 04.11.2016 Written Task 2 Outline: Part of the course to which the task refers: Part 3 Literature - text and context Title of the text for analysis: Hamlet, William Shakespeare 1599
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (I.v.90). Hamlet is about a young prince who is mourning the loss of his father. He then tries to seek revenge on his uncle Claudius because he poisoned his father. Throughout the play Hamlet’s behavior starts to change which causes him to become mad. The theory about all this is a Psychological Approach.
