The Comedy of Hamlet
The Comedy of Hamlet
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 support the fact that comedy is an important feature in Hamlet because it provides comic relief from the continuous tragedies of the play.
Some critics have said that comedy in Hamlet, serves only to entertain the audience and keep them from boredom. Nevertheless, Shakespeare strategically composes his plays and gives the characters emotion and meaning behind their words. Hamlet, Polonius, Osric, and the Gravediggers, all speak with truth, but the manner in which they speak is what is unique to this play. According to Draudt, what “distinguishes Hamlet from the rest of Shakespeare’s plays, is [that] its variety [in] the scenes are interchangeably diversified with merriment and solemnity, that the pretended madness of Hamlet causes much mirth (i.e. laughter).” Anne Barton also comments that “Hamlet seems to be the only one of Shakespeare’s protagonists who possesses and demonstrates a sense of humor” (Draudt, 2002). The significant difference in Hamlet compared to other Shakespearean tragedies, is that comedy is used to convey feelings and thoughts of the characters in a masked fashion. It assists in revealing truth, and simultaneously adds humor to the play. The use of comedy makes Hamlet a very unique work of art and
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 support the fact that comedy is an important feature in Hamlet because it provides comic relief from the continuous tragedies of the play.
Some critics have said that comedy in Hamlet, serves only to entertain the audience and keep them from boredom. Nevertheless, Shakespeare strategically composes his plays and gives the characters emotion and meaning behind their words. Hamlet, Polonius, Osric, and the Gravediggers, all speak with truth, but the manner in which they speak is what is unique to this play. According to Draudt, what “distinguishes Hamlet from the rest of Shakespeare’s plays, is [that] its variety [in] the scenes are interchangeably diversified with merriment and solemnity, that the pretended madness of Hamlet causes much mirth (i.e. laughter).” Anne Barton also comments that “Hamlet seems to be the only one of Shakespeare’s protagonists who possesses and demonstrates a sense of humor” (Draudt, 2002). The significant difference in Hamlet compared to other Shakespearean tragedies, is that comedy is used to convey feelings and thoughts of the characters in a masked fashion. It assists in revealing truth, and simultaneously adds humor to the play. The use of comedy makes Hamlet a very unique work of art and