Shakespeare’s Ironic Masterpiece: an Analysis of Hamlet’s Many Faces
Shakespeare’s ironic masterpiece: An analysis of Hamlet’s many faces
Shakespeare uses a variety of literary techniques to propagate interesting and complicated characters, themes, and plot lines in Hamlet. One of the most prominent and carefully crafted instances of this is his focus on irony. He uses irony as a driving force for the developing relationships between characters and each audience member’s individual understanding of who the characters are. Sarcasm, situational irony, and dramatic irony found in Hamlet add interest and complexity to the play and develop many varied opinions of Hamlet as a character. Shakespeare uses irony and sarcasm to paint many pictures of Hamlet, ultimately leading to several understandings of Hamlet’s nature and morality.
This wonderfully British play begins with the death of Hamlet’s father followed by the “o’er hasty” marriage of his uncle Claudius and his mother Gertrude. Hamlet is angry and upset that his mother would remarry so quickly, especially considering she wed her step-brother; a move that would have been utterly societally unacceptable to anyone but a royal. Hamlet is also very wary of his uncle Claudius and suspects him of the “cruel and unnatural murder” of Old Hamlet who was once the respected king of Denmark and who also happens to be Claudius’ own brother and Hamlet’s beloved father. As a result of these misfortunes, Hamlet becomes an interestingly bitter character, driven through several states of being. Hamlet’s wit and sarcastic use of double meanings are present from the very beginning of the play. In fact, the first words out of his mouth are double-sided. In reference to their awkward familial relationship, Hamlet gives Claudius the biting remark, “A little more than kin, and less than kind” (I. ii. 67). This is immediately followed by the first of Hamlet’s many pouting puns, “Not so, my lord. I am too much i’ the sun” (I. ii. 69). These double meanings are used to reveal the several layers of Hamlet’s
Shakespeare uses a variety of literary techniques to propagate interesting and complicated characters, themes, and plot lines in Hamlet. One of the most prominent and carefully crafted instances of this is his focus on irony. He uses irony as a driving force for the developing relationships between characters and each audience member’s individual understanding of who the characters are. Sarcasm, situational irony, and dramatic irony found in Hamlet add interest and complexity to the play and develop many varied opinions of Hamlet as a character. Shakespeare uses irony and sarcasm to paint many pictures of Hamlet, ultimately leading to several understandings of Hamlet’s nature and morality.
This wonderfully British play begins with the death of Hamlet’s father followed by the “o’er hasty” marriage of his uncle Claudius and his mother Gertrude. Hamlet is angry and upset that his mother would remarry so quickly, especially considering she wed her step-brother; a move that would have been utterly societally unacceptable to anyone but a royal. Hamlet is also very wary of his uncle Claudius and suspects him of the “cruel and unnatural murder” of Old Hamlet who was once the respected king of Denmark and who also happens to be Claudius’ own brother and Hamlet’s beloved father. As a result of these misfortunes, Hamlet becomes an interestingly bitter character, driven through several states of being. Hamlet’s wit and sarcastic use of double meanings are present from the very beginning of the play. In fact, the first words out of his mouth are double-sided. In reference to their awkward familial relationship, Hamlet gives Claudius the biting remark, “A little more than kin, and less than kind” (I. ii. 67). This is immediately followed by the first of Hamlet’s many pouting puns, “Not so, my lord. I am too much i’ the sun” (I. ii. 69). These double meanings are used to reveal the several layers of Hamlet’s
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