Hamlet

Shakespeare uses humor in a variety of ways in all his plays and stories the reasons why Shakespeare uses humor is to emphasize a certain message or theme. In the story Hamlet ,Shakespeare use of humor in the tragic play brings some kind of comical relief to the audience. Through out the five acts of Hamlet there are some parts that give the audience a bit of a distraction of the tragedy of the overall play. This distraction is key in the play if not for this humor the audience would not be as interested in the whole overall tragedy. If not for the distractions of the humorous parts the audience would be put in a ever lasting tragic setting.

For example in Act 1 Scene 2 Clauduis says “How is it that the clouds still hang on you?” to Hamlet in knowing that Hamlet has recently lost his father and his mother has married Hamlets uncle which is Claudius. Hamlets responds “Not so, my lord. I am too much i’ the sun.” even though Hamlet is grieving he gives a sarcastic and humorous answer to the king. Shakespeare writes this piece of humor to distract the audience from a serious answer into a sarcastic one that brings the tone down a bit. With this kind of shift of tones brings the audience a sense of ease. If not for this humor of Hamlet he would have killed the king after the ghost visited him and told him the truth.

Also in Act 1 Scene 2 Shakespeare uses humor between the conversation of Horatio and Hamlet.

Horatio. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.
Hamlet. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student;
I think it was to see my mother's wedding.
Horatio. Indeed, my lord, it follow'd hard upon.
Hamlet. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral baked-meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

Shakespeare use of humor in this conversation shows Hamlets dislike of the wedding. By saying that they will reuse the food from the funeral for the wedding just to save some money makes it seem as sardonic humor. He shows this humor to make the audience think of Hamlets words and show that there is more to everything than is perceived.

In Act 4 Scene 2 Shakespeare also presents humor between Hamlet and Rosencrantz by making the remark that Rosencrantz is a sponge and that he soaks up everything the king asks of him. Hamlet explains the reason why Rosencrantz is a sponge which is that the king uses him to find out information then leaves him. Shakespeare shows this playful humor towards Rosencrantz because it shows that he is only a pawn in the play. Shakespeare tries to distract the audience from Rosencrantz serious question of finding Polonius dead body to something humors like Hamlet referring to Rosencrantz as a sponge.

Also in Act 4 Scene2 Shakespeare writes humor when Claudius speaks to Hamlet of the whereabouts of Polonius dead body.

Claudius: Now, Hamlet where’s Polonius?

Hamlet: At Supper.

Claudius: At supper where?

Hamlet: Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at him.

Shakespeare uses humor in the conversation between Hamlet and Claudius to show that Hamlet does not care about his actions of killing Polonius. By saying that Polonius is at supper but he is not eating the worms are it is showing an egregious kind of humor. Shakespeare writes this kind of humor to make the audience consider that Hamlet might be truly mad.

Shakespeare use of humor in Hamlet was made to distract the audience from seriousness and provide comic relief to something very tragic. It also emphasized messages or situations that led to a greater meaning. He has given Hamlet nearly all varieties of humor, from the playful to the sardonic. Shakespeare uses humor in a variety of ways just like in the play Hamlet.