In Act 2 of Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the character of Hamlet utilizes several literary devices to convey his thoughts and emotions. One prominent device used by Hamlet is irony.
One example of irony in Act 2 is when Hamlet tells his friend Horatio, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" (2.2.249-250). This statement is ironic because it suggests that Hamlet believes that reality is subjective, and that people's perceptions shape their reality. However, this statement is also ironic because it contradicts Hamlet's own actions and feelings throughout the play. Throughout "Hamlet," Hamlet is consistently struggling with feelings of despair and hopelessness, and he seems to believe that the world is inherently flawed and corrupt. This internal conflict between his words and his actions demonstrates the use of irony in the play.
Another literary device used by Hamlet in Act 2 is soliloquy. A soliloquy is a monologue spoken by a character to themselves, revealing their inner thoughts and feelings. In Act 2, Hamlet delivers a lengthy soliloquy in which he contemplates the idea of suicide. In this soliloquy, Hamlet says, "To be, or not to be, that is the question" (2.2.129). This famous line is one of the most well-known soliloquies in literature, and it serves as a powerful example of the use of soliloquy in "Hamlet." Through this soliloquy, we are able to gain insight into Hamlet's inner turmoil and his struggle to make sense of his place in the world.
Another literary device used in Act 2 is metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a comparison is made between two unlike things without using the words "like" or "as." In Act 2, Hamlet compares his uncle, who has recently become the King of Denmark, to a "smiling damned villain" (2.2.551). This metaphor serves to convey Hamlet's deep contempt and hatred for his uncle, and it also highlights the theme of corruption and deceit present in the play.
In conclusion, Act 2 of "Hamlet" is filled with literary devices that serve to deepen our understanding of the characters and their motivations. Through the use of irony, soliloquy, and metaphor, Shakespeare is able to effectively convey the complex emotions and inner turmoil of the character of Hamlet.
Hamlet Act 2, Scene 1 Summary & Analysis
He says this situation is like the "palmy state of Rome. Inside Elsinore, Polonius gives his servant Reynaldo money and notes to take France. This makes Polonius want to go talk to the King about Hamlets odd behavior, although, they do not know that he saw the ghost of his Father which freaks him out, especially the information he found out. Polonius asks her what has happened, and she tells him that just now, as she was sewing alone in her room, Hamlet entered unannounced and uninvited with his shirt unbuttoned and his stockings hanging around his ankles. Literary critics will sometimes rely on an author's literary devices to better understand what the author's intended or deeper meaning was in writing the piece. If the actor could express Hamlet's feelings on his behalf, the actor would horrify anyone who listened with what he had to say.
Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis
At one point, Claudius uses one, saying: Claudius: His beard was as white as snow In this quote, Claudius is talking to himself about Hamlet's father, who he murdered. He goes on to say that Fortinbras has "sharked up a list of lawless resolutes. What is a Literary Device? This is the place where Hamlet becomes certain that there is something wrong. Then he leaves it to the queen to pacify him. Ophelia goes on to state that Hamlet grabbed her by the wrist and stared at her for a long while before gently releasing her with a sigh and departing her room without dropping his eyes from her face. Shakespeare uses repetition when Hamlet repeats ''words, words, words'' over and over again.
Hamlet Act 2 Literary Devices Flashcards
First and foremost among these discussions is the question of whether Hamlet is insane; are these clever literary tricks such as Hamlet calling Polonius a fishmonger instances of Hamlet's inability to recognize the world as it truly is, or is he intentionally ''playing crazy'' in order to distract his uncle from his real goals? Polonius enters and greets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The gods killed Niobe's children and she wept bitterly, unlike Queen Gertrude who did not seem to show much emotion for the death of her husband, Hamlet's father. Hamlet is expressing how pained he is that Gertrude, his mother, has not showed more outward emotional suffering from his father's death. O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! These are all consonances, and along with the use of assonance, Shakespeare has heightened the musical quality of the dialogue. The words "squeak" and "gibber" can also be considered to be examples of metaphors again when he describes the "stars with trains of fire and dews of blood" 1.
