William Shakespeare’s 1600 play, Hamlet, is one of the longest plays and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature. Shakespeare has created striking imagery with a variety of commonly used techniques, such as metaphors, allusions, symbolism, hyperboles and motifs. These techniques were developed in a way that readers today may have found it difficult to get around Shakespeare’s understanding because his interpretations are well beyond today 's modern English language. These language features were effectively used to shape our reactions about characters such as Hamlet, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude and Laertes. Additionally, these language features were also used to reinforce the themes of revenge and death.
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For instance, Hamlet’s anger is portrayed when he speaks in his fifth soliloquy, “Now I could drink hot blood / And do such bitter business as the day / Would quake to look on.” This presents that Hamlet has prepared in advance to “sweep to [his] revenge.” The motif of revenge is reinforced throughout the play because it’s one of the major highlighted themes. The character Hamlet is not the only one seeking for vengeance, however, the other characters too. This is presented when Polonius hides behind the arras in which Hamlet hears Polonius stir. This leads Hamlet to accidentally kill Polonius due to his suspicion of King Claudius hiding behind the arras. Polonius death later triggers anger to Laertes, the son of Polonius, in which he speaks threateningly: ”Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged / Most thoroughly for my father.” Later when Claudius receives a letter from Hamlet announcing his imminent return, Claudius’ power conspires with Laertes to kill Hamlet when he returns. In the last act, two characters are fighting each other, however, the play concludes with everyone dying. Shakespeare uses this motif to illustrate that revenge creates agony not only in ourselves but also to others who are close to you. Revenge and death would have been prevented if the characters did not initially have power. The power struggle led the characters to death, defining that power corrupts us and creates deadly consequences. Moreover, through this power struggle, Shakespeare’s readers are able to learn the moral to never underestimate the power of one
In …show more content…
For instance, Hamlet’s anger is portrayed when he speaks in his fifth soliloquy, “Now I could drink hot blood / And do such bitter business as the day / Would quake to look on.” This presents that Hamlet has prepared in advance to “sweep to [his] revenge.” The motif of revenge is reinforced throughout the play because it’s one of the major highlighted themes. The character Hamlet is not the only one seeking for vengeance, however, the other characters too. This is presented when Polonius hides behind the arras in which Hamlet hears Polonius stir. This leads Hamlet to accidentally kill Polonius due to his suspicion of King Claudius hiding behind the arras. Polonius death later triggers anger to Laertes, the son of Polonius, in which he speaks threateningly: ”Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged / Most thoroughly for my father.” Later when Claudius receives a letter from Hamlet announcing his imminent return, Claudius’ power conspires with Laertes to kill Hamlet when he returns. In the last act, two characters are fighting each other, however, the play concludes with everyone dying. Shakespeare uses this motif to illustrate that revenge creates agony not only in ourselves but also to others who are close to you. Revenge and death would have been prevented if the characters did not initially have power. The power struggle led the characters to death, defining that power corrupts us and creates deadly consequences. Moreover, through this power struggle, Shakespeare’s readers are able to learn the moral to never underestimate the power of one