Theme Of Diction In Hamlet

In Shakespeare’s tragic play, Hamlet, diction and imagery play an intimidating role in defining the feelings and motives of the main characters. In Act 1, Scene 5, Hamlet has a conversation with his father’s ghost- who has summoned him to the castle’s orchard for the sake of plotting revenge against his murderer, and brother, King Claudius.

Shakespeare’s choice of diction, in this particular dialogue between Hamlet and the ghost of his father, allows the reader glimpse into the ghost’s personal feelings towards Claudius and the Queen. This is intended to push the reader to side with Hamlet and the ghost of his father, and uses harsh diction to do so. For example, the ghost refers to his murderer, and his brother, as “that incestuous, that adulterous beast” (Line 12); this choice of diction shows the king’s warranted anger and gives valid reason to dislike Claudius, the new king.

If we accept the ghost’s word, his “most seeming-virtuous queen” is guilty not only of incest, but also adultery.
Claudius is projected as an evil and scheming character by King Hamlet’s spirit when he describes how the Claudius plotted against his brother; “With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts—O wicked wit and gifts that have the power so to seduce…” (Line 13).

The previous sentence alone could convince the reader that Claudius was a detestable, self-motivated, and evil man. Even so, to further convey his anger, the ghost of Hamlet’s father uses an array of negative diction so that Hamlet, and the reader, can sympathize with his despair and anger. For example: “O, horrible, most horrible!” (Line 49) in describing the act of his murder, and “Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest” (Line 52) to describe Claudius and the Queen’s affair, the ghost clearly depicts his hatred for Claudius and his new wife. The repetition of ‘horrible’ amplifies both his suffering and his grief over what was taken from him. These accusations, as well as words such as “leprous”, “Loathsome”, and “Vile”, illuminate that the characters of Claudius and the Queen, are to be

hated.
The king’s Ghost goes on to describe his murder, at the hands of his own brother, with graphic imagery. “Sleeping within my orchard, my custom always of the afternoon, upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, with juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, And in the porches of my ears did pour, The Leprous distilment.” (Lines 29- 32). Here, the ghost reveals that he was sleeping in his orchard, as he always does, when Claudius poisoned him through the ear with a blood-clotting poison. The most significant thing of this dialogue is the weight that the word “stole” carries in relation to Claudius. This reminds the reader that not only did Claudius kill the king out of self service, but he took over his life and family.
At last, the ghost relays to his son, Hamlet, his final wish: The death of Claudius while maintaining the life of the Queen, as the ghost believes she will meet her own consequence at the hands of God (Line 55). This statement alone impacts the fact that King Hamlet still retains his love for the Queen even in death, and even after her betrayal. Not only did Shakespeare push the reader to side with Hamlet and the Ghost through the descriptive imagery of his murder, but also through the damaging of Claudius and the Queen’s character with maleficent diction.