Relatives or Rivals? Throughout all forms of literature, the ways in which characters communicate are used to give the readers insight into their relationships. Some keys used to determine the relationship between two characters are diction, the frequency of communication, and the tone or punctuation. These features are observed to not only show how the character interacts, but to display the feelings of the character during interaction and the amount of times these characters interact. In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses diction, juxtaposition, and myriad puns to display how the language used by Hamlet and King Claudius affects their relationship. The language exchanged between Hamlet and Claudius accurately
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Claudius believes that he should be dominant because he is the King and no-one has his level of authority; Hamlet, on the other hand, feels that he was deprived of the throne and of a father, for which Claudius is responsible. In a conversation with Polonius about Ophelia, Hamlet says, “For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog … let her not walk in the sun.” By using a “sun” and “son” pun, Hamlet refers to how his supposed father Polonius is a poisonous influence for him. (Dangerous Doubles: Puns and Language in Shakespeare’s Hamlet). While Claudius may be the King, Hamlet did have the upper hand at one part in the play. In fact, it was Hamlet who chose to let Claudius live. Claudius was praying and Hamlet had the opportunity to kill him. However, Hamlet did not want to kill Claudius while he was praying, as that would help Claudius go to heaven. In this situation, Shakespeare makes use of the “prayer” and “preyer” pun, as it displays how at that moment, the relationship between Hamlet and Claudius is that of a predator and its prey. Hamlet also holds an intellectual advantage against Claudius, as he is always speaking in puns to protect himself and attack Claudius in a way in which he will not be charged with treason. (Dangerous Doubles) Using the literary device of a pun, he can be assured knowing that no other character will understand the deeper meaning of his language. Shakespeare designed the text in a way in which only the reader will understand the pun when taken out of its original
Claudius believes that he should be dominant because he is the King and no-one has his level of authority; Hamlet, on the other hand, feels that he was deprived of the throne and of a father, for which Claudius is responsible. In a conversation with Polonius about Ophelia, Hamlet says, “For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog … let her not walk in the sun.” By using a “sun” and “son” pun, Hamlet refers to how his supposed father Polonius is a poisonous influence for him. (Dangerous Doubles: Puns and Language in Shakespeare’s Hamlet). While Claudius may be the King, Hamlet did have the upper hand at one part in the play. In fact, it was Hamlet who chose to let Claudius live. Claudius was praying and Hamlet had the opportunity to kill him. However, Hamlet did not want to kill Claudius while he was praying, as that would help Claudius go to heaven. In this situation, Shakespeare makes use of the “prayer” and “preyer” pun, as it displays how at that moment, the relationship between Hamlet and Claudius is that of a predator and its prey. Hamlet also holds an intellectual advantage against Claudius, as he is always speaking in puns to protect himself and attack Claudius in a way in which he will not be charged with treason. (Dangerous Doubles) Using the literary device of a pun, he can be assured knowing that no other character will understand the deeper meaning of his language. Shakespeare designed the text in a way in which only the reader will understand the pun when taken out of its original