Hamlet : A Tragic Comedy

This essay will begin to explore Hamlet through a New Criticism lens by focusing on ironies, symbols, and themes brought up throughout the play. There are three different forms of irony that are focused on in Hamlet. The first one is dramatic irony, dramatic irony is when the reader knows something that they characters do not. This occurs when an event takes place that is unexpected by the character. For example, the reader finds out that Claudius is the one who killed the king based on what they ghost says to Hamlet(Act 1, Scene 5).

In Hamlet, act 1 has laid out the basic exposition of the play such as major characters and presented the conflict. The transition between act 1 and act 2 has built a series of complications, making act 2 the rising action. This is where characters such as Polonius are more defined and developed based on their actions and thoughts. These character developments lead to relationships between characters to intensify. Polonius’s development shows how his relationship with Claudius escalates from a short confirmation in act 1 to an extensive conversation in act 2.

    The existence of considerable irony within the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet is a fact recognized by most literary critics. This paper will examine the play for instances of irony and their interpretation by critics.

Quintessentially speaking, revenge is a thing that many have sought in response to a tragic event unfolding. Typically, as a result, vengeance is contemplated upon by the victim as a means of retribution, a way of making things right and seeking justice on the behest of the victim, if the law will not grant justice through due process due to corrupt forces stemmed deep within it- corrupt seeds of a corrupt plant. Therefore, revenge become an apparent option for those willing to walk that path [of no return]. However, instances of revenge not being attained in the “clear cut” way it is ordinarily acquired have occurred from time to time throughout history. One of the most prominent examples of unconventional revenge attainment can be found within the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, entailing the revenge path walked by its eponymously named main character, Prince Hamlet. Specifically, his intentful delay in attaining his revenge against his uncle Claudius for his direct role in the death of his father, King Hamlet. This literary conundrum has dumbfounded literary critics for over 400 years and counting- due to the fact that a universally accepted consensus amongst them as well as the general public as to why Hamlet delayed his revenge has not yet been reached.

Dearest friends, family and the people of Denmark. We gather here today to mourn the loss of the noble prince, loyal son and true friend, Prince Hamlet. But we are not here only to mourn, but to reminisce the times we have spent with him, both the good and the bad and to remember him as the person he was. Prince Hamlet did not live a very fortunate, on the contrary his final weeks were filled with a tragedy none of us should have to bear, but he lived his life to the full and I am sure that he has, in some way touched the lives of all of us here today.

In his “Hamlet”, Shakespeare uses the element of humor in several forms in order to emphasize both Hamlet’s wit and his ability to use this wit to stay sane despite the grim and challenging circumstances of his life. Although it is a tragedy, Shakespeare skillfully incorporates Hamlet’s unique sense of humor into the storyline, giving us a glimpse into the workings of the troubled young prince’s mind.

The movie Hamlet has an identical script to the play, with the little stage direction present in the play the director of the film had to interpret what he read and create the best scene possible from his interpretations. The effects used in the film that stemmed from the director’s interpretations of the play are zoom-ins, jump cuts, flashbacks and music. The four main effects used in the film gave a stronger idea of what is to come in the play based on the big amount of guilt shown by Claudius.

Humor is used as comic relief as seen in the graveyard scene in Act V, scene 1 with Hamlet and the gravediggers. The diggers joke about the death of Ophelia. While they’re at it, Hamlet comes in and begins a conversation with one of the gravediggers. They begin to joke with each other when Hamlet asked “Whose grave’s this, sirrah?” (1092) in which the digger replies “Mine sir” (1092). Hamlet uses the word lie in many ways such as lying on the ground or as in lying. He responded to the digger, “I think it be thine indeed, for thou liest in’t” (1092).

In Hamlet's first few lines of the play he expresses his deepest feelings through his wit.  Hamlet's sarcastic

Playwright William Shakespeare’s Hamlet follows a tragic protagonists’ struggle to be loyal to his late father to avenge his death at the hands of his uncle. The play has an important emphasis on family and highlights the supportive and destructive nature of these household relationships. Shakespeare presents the characters of Hamlet and his uncle Claudius to show the death and destruction that these relatives bring to their family. He also utilises the imagery rich dialogue in Hamlets’ soliloquies and confrontation with his mother to accentuate the negatives of his mother’s actions. Finally the playwright uses the example of Polonius’ supportive family to contrast with the destructive royal family to explore both views of family in the play.

If Hamlet should change his dark clothing, it would signify he has accepted his father’s death and is ready to move forward. Traditionally the wearing of dark clothing after death is acceptable for a period of time, but Hamlet’s persistence unnerve the guilty king and his queen. For the sake of father, he needs to continue his charade of madness until he is ready to avenge him. As a student of philosophy, the young Hamlet likes to weigh his positions and actions. He is a thinker and not opt to rush into quick actions.

In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, it is clearly evident Prince Hamlet is overcome with “madness” due to his father’s murder and other malicious actions taken against him. Throughout the play, there are many examples of how Hamlet displays his insanity due to certain situations he experiences and how he handles them. Hamlet shows his madness through the killing of Polonius, his treatment of Ophelia, his thoughts of suicide, and the treatment of his mother Gertrude.

Shakespearean plays are often known for their outstanding entertainment and classic comic conflict. In his masterwork, Hamlet, Shakespeare uses these aspects to serve his thematic purpose. He has used comedy throughout many of his historic plays, but in this play, comedy is the drawing point that makes it fun and entertaining, yet clear and intuitive. Generally, his tragedies are not seen as comical, but in reality, they are full of humor. However, these comic elements don’t simply serve to relieve tension; they have much significance to the play itself. The characters of Hamlet, Polonius, Osric, and the Gravediggers, prove to be very influential characters, and throughout the play, they are the individuals that

Another instance where Polonius is a comic relief is when Hamlet is inviting the players into the castle. One player breaks into an emotional speech at Hamlets whim and Polonius interrupts with comments. “Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and/ Good discretion.”(IIii,447-448). Polonius is trying to commend the speaker to hasten him. After the speech keeps going on Polonius rudely interrupts with “This is too long”(IIii,478). As the player recites a part of the speech he becomes emotional with color and Polonius points it out. “Look whe’e he has not turned his color and has/ Tears in’s eyes.-Prithee, no more.”(IIii,499-500). Polonius is rude and pokes fun at the emotional speaker. His actions contrast with the player’s tragic speech emphasizing sorrow aspects of his speech.

Often, pieces of literature have been analyzed and made into a motion picture in the hopes of further developing the themes presented in the work. Though the Shakespearian play, Hamlet, has been interpreted and converted into a film numerous times by different directors, Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation particularly captured the essence of Hamlet and helped the audience truly understand the events that transpired in Act Three Scene Two of Hamlet. It is in this act, Hamlet plan to reveal King Claudius’ treachery is played out. Hamlet exposes the king through adding an extra sixteen lines to the play which depicts him killing Hamlet’s father. With the directions Hamlet gave to the actors, Hamlet is able to make the audience recognize the king’s