Words

Throughout the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare employs certain diction to help emphasis and exemplify certain themes.  For instance, in the graveyard scene (811-815), Hamlet effectively portrays the theme of the mystery of death. The two clowns attitudes towards the dead conflict with the more revering attitude Hamlet. Furthermore, when Hamlet holds up the skull, it undeniably foreshadows his death and the death of practically everyone in his family. In Hamlets “to be or not to be” (766-769) soliloquy, he constantly asks himself rhetorical questions. Theses unanswerable questions parallel Hamlet to King Claudius. Although they both appear to be different, they are extremely similar. Both characters has the ability to manipulate and use others to their advantage. Ironically, this leads to theirs deaths at the end of the play. In King Claudius’ soliloquy, he asks himself rhetorical questions about confession and going to heaven. His tone is one of anger towards his actions and desperation. He is desperate to not be set to the underworld. Ironically, instead of seeking console, he devises plans to murder Hamlet. In the scene, “Do it, England” (792-795), the reader can see how worried King Claudius is of Hamlet. The emphasis on the words “Do IT” helps emphasis the panic and desperation King Claudius is in. He believes that the only way to survive is to ship Hamlet to his death. In the last scene of the play, (826-830), hamlet and his relative kill each other. Horatio is the only survivor of the pandemonium.  The ending serves as a lesson to all. Vengeance is nothing but trouble and leads to more chaos and suffering; in the most tragic fashion. As they say,  “eye for an eye, [would] make the whole world blind.”