English Literature

Shakespeare allows Hamlet to throw the first tantrum of craziness when he is introduced to the audience in Act one scene two. It is the room of State in the Castle House where Hamlet is so engrossed in his imaginative thinking that he exclaims,  My father  .methinks I see my father.  Horatio confirms his illusion by responding that he saw him the night before. I believe that this demonstration of madness might have been genuine in that Hamlet might have been grieving for his father to the extent that he was having imagery illusions of him. His detailed questionings about the ghost did attest to the authenticity of the madness. A second instance of madness is depicted in Act one scene four  the Platform. Again he receives illusions of his father and act in an unconventional manner. This time I strongly believe it to be an act of madness intended to gather Horatio s sympathy. Even though the Ghost appearance was Horatio s observation, Hamlet s only ascription to it was because he wanted to draw the attention of his audience to himself. Precisely he encouraged the conversation building up the scenario from the weather, twelve midnight and eventually the Ghost.
Taking our attention from the ghost scenes Hamlet again displays insanity in Act three scene two as he begs Ophelia to lie in her lap. It would appear that it was an act from the perspective that he creates an attention drama. He pretends to grieve the death of his father by saying that he died just but two hours ago whereby it was two months. It distinctly was an act of dramatic madness for he did know too well when his father died.

SHAKESPEAR S IRONY
Two great examples of Shakespeare s skilful use of dramatic irony is observed in Act one scene three as he introduces Ophelia who tells of her ironic experience with religion. Her priest
introduces her to the thorny road to heaven when he travels  primrose path of dalliance.  The moral here is that someone can have you perform an act contrary to their own beliefs. In the second case Act one scene two Hamlet gives the irony of a funeral repast and a wedding celebration. The irony lies in the fact that the dishes can be used for both occasions. Shakespeare s message to the audience is the commonality even those the purposes might be diametrically opposed. Yet, a third instant when Hamlet actually confronts his father s ghost in Act one scene five , he asks the ghost to lead but at the same time affirms that he will go no further. Two diametrically opposed thoughts forcibly telling the audience that one can say what one does not mean.

LERATES AND HAMLET
Hamlet and Leartes together have the characteristics of great actors throwing tantrums whenever they require their audience s attention. Shakespeare uses them to moralize the play balancing truth and error as justice is enacted. They both show resilience, giving no place to negativity as exemplified in Hamlet s confrontation with his father s ghost and Leartes response to her father s request to be mindful of friendships. Their affinity to  father  is a notable similarity.

The distinctive differences lie in their responses to life. Here Shakespeare uses them to teach the lesson of  attitude determining altitude.  They both had very strong affection for family especially,  father.  The relationships with fathers differed. Leartes had a distinct alternative relationship since Shakespeare shows her father alive with an affectionate relationship being . Act one scene two Leartes highlights the difference between them. Hamlet is described as  not being gracious not consistently sweet and fleeting in his relationships. Whereas, Leartes demonstrates these fine relationship qualities.