Hamlet Act Ii Close Reading
Hamlet’s soliloquy – Act II Scene II
Close Reading – Literary Devices
William Shakespeare uses many types of literary devices to describe the very principle of Hamlet’s true battle. Hamlet compares himself to a “peasant slave” and to the talented actor, whom could give a convincing performance without feeling the true emotion. After his visit with the ghost (his supposed father), he has been dedicated to the idea of plotting revenge of his uncle-father. Although, it is difficult for Hamlet to perform this horrific act, because of his disgust of the emotionless scheming revenge. Lastly, for Hamlet to try and convince himself to follow through with this scheme, he arranges a trap to have Claudius unknowingly reveal that he is guilty. In the beginning of Hamlet’s soliloquy, he compares himself to a “rogue and peasant slave”, which points out that Hamlet is frustrated with himself. In this metaphor, Hamlet feels terrible that the actor could shed more emotion, and force his soul to feel made up feelings in a work of make-believe. The use of visual imagery is used when Hamlet describes his acting, “That from her working all his visage waned, tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, a broken voice, and his whole function suiting…” Here Hamlet is amazed by how easily the actor could show such emotion, and he even says “what would he do, had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have?” He knows that actor would be even more tremendous if that was the case, because the use of a hyperbole is noted when he says, “He would drown the stage with tears and cleave the general ear with horrid speech.” After stating the above facts, Hamlet then looks at himself and sees himself as pathetic. His reflection of himself, describes that he is an unattractive, uncourageous mischief and protests that he primarily just mopes around and has no motivation to plot revenge and doubts his ability to achieve it. Another literary device utilized is the rhetorical questions he
Close Reading – Literary Devices
William Shakespeare uses many types of literary devices to describe the very principle of Hamlet’s true battle. Hamlet compares himself to a “peasant slave” and to the talented actor, whom could give a convincing performance without feeling the true emotion. After his visit with the ghost (his supposed father), he has been dedicated to the idea of plotting revenge of his uncle-father. Although, it is difficult for Hamlet to perform this horrific act, because of his disgust of the emotionless scheming revenge. Lastly, for Hamlet to try and convince himself to follow through with this scheme, he arranges a trap to have Claudius unknowingly reveal that he is guilty. In the beginning of Hamlet’s soliloquy, he compares himself to a “rogue and peasant slave”, which points out that Hamlet is frustrated with himself. In this metaphor, Hamlet feels terrible that the actor could shed more emotion, and force his soul to feel made up feelings in a work of make-believe. The use of visual imagery is used when Hamlet describes his acting, “That from her working all his visage waned, tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, a broken voice, and his whole function suiting…” Here Hamlet is amazed by how easily the actor could show such emotion, and he even says “what would he do, had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have?” He knows that actor would be even more tremendous if that was the case, because the use of a hyperbole is noted when he says, “He would drown the stage with tears and cleave the general ear with horrid speech.” After stating the above facts, Hamlet then looks at himself and sees himself as pathetic. His reflection of himself, describes that he is an unattractive, uncourageous mischief and protests that he primarily just mopes around and has no motivation to plot revenge and doubts his ability to achieve it. Another literary device utilized is the rhetorical questions he