Analysis Of Dramatic Irony In Hamlet

Dramatic irony is when a speech or situation is understood by the audience, while the characters in the play are oblivious to the truth being told to the audience (Dictionary). This literary device is present in Act I Scene V, when the ghost of Hamlet’s visits Hamlet and informs him how he had actually died. During this scene, Hamlet follows the ghost that has been roaming around the castle and throughout their encounter, the ghost admits that he is the spirit of his father and came back to bring a message. The ghost wanted to inform Hamlet that Claudius was the one who murdered him and poisoned him while he was sleeping. In addition to his death, he orders Hamlet to seek vengeance. This scene proves to be an important scene of the play, …show more content…
In the beginning of the Act I, Hamlet was introduced as a depressed character due to the loss of his father. The audience then grows a greater sympathy for Hamlet after act 1, scene 5, occurred and they realized Hamlet’s father’s death could have been prevented. A hostile attitude is built for Claudius after this scene has occurred because they realized how manipulative and selfish he was. Claudius murdered his own brother without feeling any guilt and lied about it for his own selfish ways, this grows antipathy for Claudius due to his horrible acts. Through the sympathies the audience realizes that during this moment of the play Hamlet is the protagonist, while Claudius is the antagonist. Dramatic irony plays an important role when developing the conflict of the play because it creates a suspense only for the audience. The audience is only aware of the encounter Hamlet had with the ghost but the conflict it created is if Hamlet should trust the ghost. Hamlet states that he is afraid the ghost might have been the devil, “May be the devil, and the devil hath power t ' assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps out of my weakness and my melancholy, as he is very potent with such spirits, abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds more relative than this. The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.”(Hamlet: Act I, ii, 561 – 567, Hamlet) . Through the use of dramatic irony, it creates a suspense if Hamlet should continue with his vengeance or if it is just the devil taking advantage of him. The following scene of dramatic irony not only developes the conflict but also begins to cultivate the themes of death and revenge (Shakespeare). The theme of also death begins to take place because the ghost of Hamlet’s father begins to introduce his cause of death and what it does to you. He introduces the murder hat occurs in the play and