Hamlet Rhetorical Devices

Hamlet’s attitude toward death changes throughout the play from first not understanding to ultimately coming to terms with death. When Hamlet is first introduced, he is very angry and troubled because of the recent passing of his father, as well as the new marriage his mother has entered. Based off of Hamlet’s actions and attitudes towards others it is apparent that he is having an internal conflict with the nature of his father’s murder and revenge. However, many characters write off Hamlet’s aggression as madness caused by various other reasons. The audience acts as an omniscient being when watching Hamlet because they know all of the truths, such as Hamlet’s obsession with the Ghost.

Hamlet starts the soliloquy with a question of “To be, or not to be.” The question uses parallel structure and repetition with the phrase “to be,” which emphasizes the impact of the answer to this question on Hamlet’s future. Hamlet then employs war imagery in order to highlight the consequences of choosing each path. In order to illuminate the suffering he undergoes by “being,” he uses the words “slings” and “arrows,” which provide an image of Hamlet being bombarded by pain from all sides. Meanwhile, he uses the word “arms” to describe what action he would have to take to conquer the “sea of troubles” that he faces in his daily life.

Hamlet, the play written by William Shakespeare, is the story of a young adult struggling with not only the recent death of his father, but also his mother’s quick marriage to his uncle and all of the other complications that come with the bizarre situation taking place in the throne of Denmark. Hamlet is a very dynamic character as he himself isn’t really sure how he feels about the conflicts of the plot, which eventually lead to the death of much of the royal family. Hamlet copes with his problems by showing others his suicidal contemplations and insane thoughts. The way Hamlet handles his issues is triggered by previous encounterings and affects the eventual outcome of the play.

The drive to discover who one truly is and to understand the meaning of life has driven human actions and inspired stories for thousands of years. From the tragedies of Greece to modern literary works, characters combat the same challenges that many readers face in everyday life. Hamlet, Gregor, Arthur, White Fang, and Antigone all struggle to find who they are and their purpose in life throughout their adventures. Some, like Gregor in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”, are never able to truly discover who they are, while others, like Antigone in the play “Antigone” by Sophocles, know what they value most. Possessing a knowledge of the aspects of life that one values and staying true to those values leads to the understanding of what it truly means to be alive.

this sentence simply implies a lesson for Laertes to think before acting or speaking. The term "thoughts" in the phrase are personified into having a human form of "tongue" and the ability to act.   Additionally, the word "tongue" is also used metaphorically in the speech. The creativeness of Shakespeare helps the audience and the context to stress the importance to think twice before you speak.

“To be or not or not to be - that is the question” (3.1.64). In life, people often have to decide whether to fulfill their desire by harming others or to uphold their conscience. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, King Claudius chooses to pursue his desires through the suffering of King Hamlet, Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, and his servants. King Claudius’s lust for absolute power, in addition to his deceitful and manipulating tactics, leads to his downfall.

Throughout Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, displaying the acts of suicide as an attempt to escape reality, religiously, and morally. Standing with two well-known soliloquies Hamlet, questions should I be alive, or should I be dead. Indecisive he wavers on the fact of the religious and classical perspective of suicide. Opening Act Three, Hamlets first known soliloquy “To be or not to be”, suggest the idea of suicide. “The sling and arrows of outrageous fortune” (3.1. 1-3).

In Shakespeare’s’ tragedies, one element is consistent- the tragic hero. Each tragic hero shares certain traits that contribute to his tragedy. They possess a fault that will eventually lead to their demise. Shakespeare’s tragic hero is a man of noble birth who falls from a position of honor and respect due to a flaw in his character. Hamlet and Macbeth are portrayed as tragic heroes through their nobility, tragic flaws, and errors in judgment.

Proctor 1 Andrew Proctor English 12/ Mrs. Hogan Hamlet Analysis November 28, 2016 Rational or Foolish? The world is filled with ups and downs, and with a great deal of time to think about them, can lead to thoughts blown way out of proportion and ultimately, insanity. Hamlet's to be or not to be soliloquy from the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, portrays something that crosses every human's mind, even for the slightest of moments; to keep pushing forward or to give up on life. Suicide is then a choice when situations become rough, but a cowardly act.

Insanity: A Hamlet Analysis Insanity in medical terms, is described as a mental illness in such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, and is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior. In the play Hamlet, many people question whether or not Hamlet is crazy or not. Hamlet is in fact, not just putting on an “antic disposition,” as he is actually mad because of his hallucinations, his depression, and showing no remorse for his actions. Merriam-Webster describes hallucinations as ‘a perception of objects with no reality usually arising from disorder of the nervous system’. Throughout the play, Old Hamlet’s “appears”, but it is vague on whether or not he is actually present.