Rhetorical Analysis Of Hamlet

Hamlet is a famous play created by an amazing writer, William Shakespeare. The original play is set in Denmark and is based on the revenge Prince Hamlet has upon Claudius. The plot of the play induces dramatic irony, and context that targets its Elizabethan audience who are consumed of social values and perspectives. In act 4 Hamlet states:

“Ay, sir, that soaks up the king’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.” ( )

This speech depicts Hamlet’s realization that his own friends are being used

The reason why the speech took action was through Rosencrantz instigations, trying figure out where Hamlet hid Polonius’ body. Through Hamlet’s interrogation he realizes how much of an ally of a king he is rather than a friend, causing his speech to take action. During act 4, Rosencrantz begins to question Hamlet, “What have you done, my lord, with the death body?”(). This quote proves that Rosencrantz needed to know what he has done with the body to inform Claudius where it was. But from Hamlet’s vague answer he continues ask and hints what he should do because he believes it was what Claudius would want, “Tell us where ‘tis, that we may take it thence and bear it to the chapel” (). As a close friend of Hamlet, he believes he would open up to him and take his advice to bury Polonius’ body in the chapel. After Rosencrantz constant persistence Hamlet states, “That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! What replication should be made by the son of a king?” This quote shows that he will not tell Rosencrantz where he hid the body, nor will he take his advice to bury the body in the chapel. He then compares him to a sponge and due to Rosencrantz confusion of the sponge comparison it causes Hamlet’s speech to take action. This speech had been caused due to the fact Rosencrantz was persistent for Hamlet to reveal

The speech effects the audience’s social standards and manipulation on life, attributable to why this play targets the audience. The first effect that Hamlet’s speech creates is making Rosencrantz realize he was a sponge, “Ay, sir, that soaks up the king’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities But such officers do the king best service in the end:”(). It targets the audience because in the Elizabeth era they had a hierarchy. There were many classes, from highest to lowest, Monarch, Nobility, Gentry, Merchants, Yeoman, and Laborers, the higher you were based on your social class the more you were respected. The lower you were in class made you believe that the higher class were someone you wanted to respect to be rewarded (Hierarchy Structure). This line conveys that people were easily manipulated by others social standings. Hamlet then compares him to the food left in the corner of an apes mouth, “He keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed:”(). This quote effects the audience’s social views because Hamlet brings to their attention that due social class disparity, people follow someone of higher class to gain honour, however, the lower class people are just being used. Lastly, from the last part of Hamlet speech, “When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again." (). This affects