Why Does Shakespeare Use Of Humor In Hamlet

Hamlet’s Sense of Humor William Shakespeare has written many plays in his lifetime. From tragedies to comedies, Shakespeare has entertained a wide range of people, even to this day. Hamlet, in particular, contains many problems within the play. However, humor/black humor is a problem that Hamlet, the protagonist, can relate to. “Black Humor” is a form of humor that regards human suffering as absurd rather than pitiable, or that considers human existence as ironic and pointless but somehow comic. In Act IV, Scene III, Hamlet is asked where Polonius is. In response, he says, “At supper… Not where he eats, but where he is eaten” (Shakespeare 82). Hamlet is implying that Polonius is dead and is at supper. However, he is not eating, but the one being eaten (by worms). As you can see, one may not make light of a situation such as this. However, Hamlet may be an exception as he has practiced the art humor.

As Cecellia Parkin states, “Humor and laughter act as a means of discharging surplus tension and mental excitation” (Parkin 229). Without a doubt, people use humor to lighten a situation where people might feel uncomfortable, nervous, or anxious. By using humor, one can express his or her thoughts to other people verbally. Whether these thoughts appeal to other people is what makes humor effective. By telling a joke and receiving laughter as a response, a person and everyone around them can relieve any built up stress or tension and change their mood altogether. However, the problem is not humor itself, it is how people use humor. Humor can be expressed in many ways such as black humor, satire, and sarcasm. A person’s sense of humor can tell a lot about them as an individual. A person may find black humor funny, whereas another person may find it odd to laugh at a serious situation. There is not much of a solution to a person’s sense of humor because each and every person on the planet is