Sunday, December 26, 2010

In Act 1 and 2, what are some examples of dramatic irony in Hamlet?

Since dramatic irony is the kind of irony in which a character in the play thinks one thing is so, but the audience or reader knows better, scenes involving Polonius serve as having dramatic irony:


  • When Polonius speaks with his son Laertes, who is about to return to France, the father gives advice to his son.  But, buried in conversation are the themes honest vs. deceit and love vs. betrayal as, after Laertes leaves, Polonius instructs Reynaldo to spy on his son. (Act I,sc.3)

  • In his conversation with Ophelia, as well, Polonius is deceitful.  While he questions her about Hamlet, he does shown concern for his daughter's feeling; however, he later informs the king that after Hamlet is mad based upon what Ophelia has told him.  Polonius, then, arranges for Claudius and himself to betray Ophelia's trust by spying on her with Hamlet. (Act II)

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