Write a Critical Interpretation of Act 5, Scene 2, Considering How Language and Dramatic Effects Contribute to Meaning in Hamlet.

1360 Words6 Pages
Write a critical interpretation of Act 5, scene 2, considering how language and dramatic effects contribute to meaning in Hamlet. Shakespeare in Hamlet’s Act 5 scene 2 uses intense language and dramatic effects to help intensify the action in the scene. The action in the scene largely contributes to the meaning of the play. It can be argued that ‘the murder which gives rise to the action lies outside the play’ (83.1.III) as suggested by A.C Bradley. This scene is majorly action driven; it starts and ends with action. Furthermore it can be argued that Shakespeare to have an effective ending uses the impact of six deaths including the death of the main protagonist in the final scene. In this essay I will present a critical interpretation of how the language and dramatic effects of the play help build the action and contribute to the meaning to help have an impactful ending to the play. The scene begins with Hamlet announcing the death of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to Horatio. The revelation is in itself a dramatic effect as the audience becomes more intrigued and excited on how Hamlet has managed to get them killed. The language used by Hamlet when explaining how he had managed to get them killed depict his anger towards treachery ‘Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes/between the pass and fell incensed points/of mighty opposites’ (5.2.61-63). This could also depict the notion of Hamlet’s attitude towards the lower rank; it is most likely that Hamlet and Claudius that belong to the upper rank regard Guildenstern and Rosencrantz as inferior breeding. On the other hand ‘mighty opposites’ could also suggest Hamlet referring to the two forces of evil and good. Moreover the dramatic effect that Shakespeare outlines when Hamlet narrates to Horatio his plan to save himself that he has realised that ‘There's a divinity that shapes our ends, /Rough-hew them how we

More about Write a Critical Interpretation of Act 5, Scene 2, Considering How Language and Dramatic Effects Contribute to Meaning in Hamlet.

Open Document