Dramatic Irony is Hamlet
What is Dramatic Irony?
-Dramatic Irony is when the words and actions of the characters in a work of literature are known to the audience or reader, but they are not known to certain characters in the story. The reader or audience has a greater knowledge of many of the characters themselves.
-Shakespeare employs dramatic irony in many of his tragedies, so that the audience is engaged, and so they are able to witness characters errors in their action, predict the fate of the characters, and experience feelings of tragedy and grief.
Examples of Dramatic Irony in Hamlet
Act 1, Scene 5
• Ghost of Old Hamlet talks to Hamlet and explains to him how his death occurred.
• Ghost reveals that he was not actually
• Hamlet has control over his mother, pressuring her to admit her guilt.
• Queen feels threatened by hamlet`s action, and she calls for help.
• Hamlet, who does not know that Polonius is behind the arras, stabs that curtain, killing Polonius.
• Hamlet acted out of impulse, and he stabbed the curtain, hoping it was Claudius.
Importance
• The dramatic irony of this scene is effective because it allow the audience to be able to predict the tragic gate of Polonius. It adds a feeling of suspense for the audience, as they wonder whether or not Hamlet will discover that Polonius is listening to their conversation.
• This dramatic irony leads Claudius to believe Hamlet I dangerous on the loose.
• Claudius knows he cannot be mean to hamlet though because he is loved and he sees him as a threat to the throne, so he orders ``the present death of Hamlet`` (IV . iii . 69)
• Polonius’ death is also the breaking point for Ophelia, because it is too much for her, she is ``divided from herself`` (IV . V . 86) And she supposedly commits suicide. Polonius’ mischief helped lead to Ophelia`s fate.
• Hamlet who was trying to revenge his father`s death, acted on impulse which led to his own fate because he accidently committed the same act that he was trying to punish Claudius for. Hamlet murdered the father of a son and daughter, just as his father was murdered. This leads to his fate because Laertes must revenge his father’s murder by