How is it possible to compare two completely opposite genres? At first glance, these two genres are completely different with no common points. However, they do have more in common than thought possible. Both of them show different sides of humanity and society and some of them even use similar literary techniques to display its themes. Although they are both similar in that they both use irony and they both portray similar themes, comedy portrays them from a different perspective and context compared to tragedy.
Marriage incentivises characters in both Hamlet and The Importance of Earnest in different ways. The idea of marriage is filled with joyous celebration and happiness, however the concept is treated differently in Hamlet as well as
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After the whole play wanting to be Ernest, Jack’s name is actually Ernest and he says, “I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn't I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest” (Wilde III.170). This is an example of situational irony since an unexpected outcome occurred. The whole play, The Importance of Being Earnest is based around irony since every event that happens is opposite of what is expected. Without the ironic events and characters the play loses its wit and can not completely convey its themes. In Hamlet, the irony that exists is dramatic irony as shown by this quote, “How strange or odd some'er I bear myself As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on” (Shakespeare I.V.199-200). Hamlet said this to Horacio and the audience, it's considered dramatic irony since the other characters do not know that he is feigning insanity. This is important to the plot since the plot is based around his insanity. The whole idea of the characters not knowing something is important to both stories. The story would not exist without this type of …show more content…
They both reveal how much potentiality that humanity has and how complicated they are. Shakespeare feel that humans have potential as shown when Hamlet says, “What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable” (Shakespeare II.II.285-287). In this tragedy, where everyone dies, someone comments on how masterful man is. Even though tragedy is supposed to show the unappealing qualities of man, it still compliments the race as a whole as shown the words “noble” and “infinite”. The idea of man being great was probably most developed during the enlightenment era which is near the period when this play was written which showed that people adored the idea of being the greatest. All forms of entertainment at that time touched upon the idea because it was an important idea. Even after that time period, the idea of man being great still existed as shown in The Importance of Being Earnest when Miss Prism says, “I know no one who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility” (Wilde II.4-5). This shows that people have the capacity to be dutiful and responsible to a high degree. Comedies can not be funny all the time, since there are some moments that must be taken with a serious tone such as this statement. It is considered impolite by society if this was used sarcastically. Both genres see humanity as a great thing and both of them convey it in
Through the combination of the two different types of irony, Shakespeare wasn’t only able to deliver his message, but was also successful in creating a comedy out of it at the same time. By using situational irony, he was able to create plot twists for the audience and make things more interesting. While dramatic irony was used mainly to create a comedic effect for the play. When combined, Shakespeare was able to deliver his message while making a point out of it looking from his perspective. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. ” (Pg.
Humor was added to Hamlet by two major scenes, along with Hamlet's use of his antic-disposition. These two were: the scene between Hamlet and Polonius in the library, and the scene with the grave diggers (the clowns).
The Love of Ophelia It is never easy to see into a person’s heart and find their true emotions, especially when their feelings are intentionally masked to give off a different impression. Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, attempts to mask specific emotions throughout the play. He tries to give off the impression that he is insane when he is near his murderous uncle and other characters because he doesn’t want them to suspect his plan of revenge. However, he silently expresses his love towards the sweet Ophelia, his girlfriend.
Blanche's facade of morality is ironic when the reader is informed of the truth, as is her eventual committal to a mental institute when the audience knows about Stanley's rape/sex. Shakespeare incorporates similar dramatic irony into Hamlet through the same technique. Examples include Laertes trusting of Claudius when in fact Claudius couldn't force himself to feel repentant. It is the use of this dramatic irony, based on the discrepancy between appearance and reality, which makes the plays' plots engaging and interesting. Irony is not only employed by the playwright's in the plots, but also in subtle symbolism which allows a multi-faceted portrayal of characters, and the fictional world in which they exist.
In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses many literary devices to help the reader understand the theme of the story. One of those many literary devices used in the play, is the wide range of irony. Throughout the pages of the book the reader will see the use of dramatic, situational, and verbal irony. Shakespeare does not use irony in an understated way, it is very direct, and can be found on almost every page of the book. The use of irony creates suspense, and adds interest as to what will happen.
Throughout The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde plays around with the standard expectations along with the absence of compassion of a Victorian society in the 1890’s, he demonstrates this through several genres of comedy such as Melodrama, Comedy of Manners, Farce, dark humour and Irony, as well as portraying the themes, death and illness, in this play in a brilliance of unusual amount of references.
These two authors are very similar. Both use dark, surrealistic language. Both men show different aspects of the descent into madness. Also both men use a descriptive, intelligent writing style. Instead of appealing to your emotions, or telling you what you should be feeling, they describe what is happening. Their descriptions may induce certain emotions, such as disgust, fear, or sadness, but they appeal first to the mind. They appeal first to the mind, and when the mind dictates to the heart that this is wrong, or strange, then the heart stirs and provides the appropriate emotion. Their writing styles may have their differences, but on the whole they are more alike than they are different.
The pun on the word "Earnest" suggests two things; it stands for the name but also refers to honesty and integrity. It is also known as a `one joke' or a play on words. Though the name is spelt as "Ernest" the reader still recognizes the double meaning of the title. Two of the main characters, Jack and Algernon, strive to be "Ernest" and "Earnest" in the play, yet they both deceive others to escape lives which they grow tired of. They both hope to marry the girls that they love, yet they are starting the relationships base on false pretence and lies. It is ironic that they both call themselves "Ernest," a name that suggests honesty and sincerity, yet they both create stories to escape something or the other. Jack creates a brother called "Ernest" in the city that he uses as a `scape goat' to leave his prim and proper, respectable country life, whereas Algernon creates a friend by the name of "Bunbury" to escape his aunt's high class society parties. He shows his lack of interest in such social events when he tells Jack,
By doing that he caused the audience to feel that the actors had authentic regret about their characters actions (Foster 19). Two adolescent women who incorrectly consider the men’s names to be Ernest, and who are passionate about the men for this very reason, think highly of both Jack and Algernon. In relating the story of mix-ups and mistaken identities, the ideals and manners of the Victorian society are satirized in a comedy where the characters "treat all the trivial things of life seriously and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality"(Wilde, Oscar). Oscar Wilde’s amusing scenes often take their source in societal satire and unconventional (Baselga 15). All the way through his play, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde satirizes education, women, and morality.
To me these had to be the main differences between them. Kurt Vonnegut did a very good job at showing the themes in these stories. They were very well drawn out and displayed all throughout them. Citation: Harris, Laurie Lanzen.
The use of humor in a tragic story helps to give the reader a break from the monotony of a depressing story line. “If a story were completely filled with depressing and tragic events, the readers' interest would most definitely be lost”( Bloom 91). William Shakespeare's, Hamlet is based on the tragedy of a murder of the king of Denmark, whose son must revenge his murderer. Therefore it is classified as a tragedy and if humor weren't present in the play it would be very depressing. Shakespeare ironically uses Hamlet; the main character to add the comedy bit of the play when he is the one the tragedy affects most. This humor is evident throughout the play by Hamlet. When Hamlet is upset at someone like Claudius or Polonius he will mock them in their presence without either one of them really catching on too quickly.
How does humor factor into a tragedy? Shakespeare knew the answer to this question and acted upon it quite frequently. Shakespeare has been known to write comedies and tragedies both but this does not qualify him at to not incorporate a little of each into each other. In the work of Hamlet there are many occasions where Shakespeare uses it for different effects. The main reason for the presence of humor within a tragedy is to keep the reader interested. Shakespeare uses many forms of humor including but not limiting wit, pun’s, and casual jokes. In the work of Hamlet, Hamlet is usually the character that Shakespeare chooses to bring out the humor in anything. He becomes a very diverse character in this sense considering he can make a joke out of dead people and even people he kills. Rather a charming person in the face of unpleasant events.
For being considered one of the greatest English plays ever written, very little action actually occurs in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The play is, instead, more focused on the progressing psychological state of its protagonist, after whom the play is name, and his consequent inaction. It is because of this masterpiece of a character that this play is so widely discussed and debated. Hamlet’s generality, his vagueness, his supposed madness, his passion, his hesitation, and his contradictions have puzzled readers, scholars, and actors for centuries. In this paper I will attempt to dissect this beautiful enigma of a character to show that Hamlet is much more self-aware than many people give him credit for and that he recognizes that he is an actor in the theatre of life. He understands and accepts the role he is given, he studies it carefully and thoughtfully, he rehearses and even converses with fellow actors, and he gives one final performance.
Through admirable pieces of written work that have stood the test of time, skillful authors have shown the use of irony to be an effective means of accentuating important themes and characters. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the dramatic use of various levels of irony distinctly outlines key themes and aspect of characters that are crucial to the play. The use of dramatic, verbal, and situational irony bring intensity to Shakespeare’s tragedy by emphasizing its key elements. Shakespeare skillfully incorporates dramatic irony on several occasion throughout the play to highlight key traits of the main characters and major themes.
Another point that can be compared and contrasted is the search for a solution in the plots. In Hamlet, Hamlet is searching for the truth to discover if his father was really murdered by his uncle and if this is true he must correct the situation by killing his uncle. Also, in Oedipus Rex this plot is seen in that Oedipus is searching for the truth about the murder of the old king, Laios, and the situation will be resolved by the murder being banished from Thebes. In contrast A Midsummer Night's Dream is more centered around the lovers trying to overcome the forces that separate them and Oberon seeking revenge on Titania.