Show an understanding of the dramatic devices used by Shakespeare to substantiate Hamlets view that 'Denmark's a prison'.

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Bilkiss Bashir

Show an understanding of the dramatic devices used by Shakespeare to substantiate Hamlets view that ‘Denmark’s a prison’.

Shakespeare uses a number of dramatic devices in order to portray the isolation and entrapment that Hamlet feels, in a clear understandable manner, thereby allowing the audience to clearly identify and sympathise with his feelings.  He is successfully able to establish this through a number of dramatic devices, such as the effective use of soliloquies, the detailed settings in the play, the behaviour of the other characters, the language used throughout the play and finally the situations in which Hamlet finds himself.

“ Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” (Act 1 scene 4)

As soon as the play begins immediately there is an atmosphere of intrigue; the line above clearly indicates and suggests to the audience that there is going to be turmoil and trouble surrounding the play and this statement clearly fits in with the idea that “Denmark is a prison”.  The first scene is full of short, quick questions and statements, which adds to this overall atmosphere of the play.

“Who is there?”

“Stand ho! Who is there?” (Act 1 scene 1)

There are many images in the play of Hamlet which add to this claustrophobic, trapped atmosphere, including a number of recurrent images, dealing with disease, corruption, pain, suffering, death and the breaking of the laws of nature.  An early reference of the unwholesomeness of the time occurs in Act 1, scene 2, 135-7 when Hamlet views the world as:

“an unweeded garden

That grows to seed, things rank and gross in nature

possess it merely.”

And later in the same act Marcellus adds support to Hamlet’s opinion when he tells Horatio “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.4.90).  Hamlet is perturbed by the belief that:

“the native of the hue resolution

Is sickled 0’er with the pale cast of thought” (Act 3 scene 1)

 

The atmosphere of the play at the beginning also has an impact on creating a very confined environment, as it is extremely uncertain and anxious.  The characters at the beginning of the play are extremely uneasy and on edge.  This is apparent through their speech, which suggests that they are scared as one sentinel thanks the other for coming on time.

“For this much thanks.  Tis bitter cold,

And I am sick at heart.”  (Act 1 scene 1)

The fact that there is so much secrecy and intrigue also adds to this claustrophobic, imprisoned environment.

Throughout the play the setting and location used play a big part in creating this impression of entrapment.  The atmosphere of the setting is extremely claustrophobic and enclosed.  The play rarely leaves the location of the castle; it is only after the death of Polonius that it leaves this setting.

The images created in the play are extremely effective in provoking the imagination and creating an atmosphere of conspiracy and scheming.  

The atmosphere of the play at the beginning is extremely dark and gloomy.  This is true of the first few scenes in particular, due to the appearance of the Ghost as well as the details of the murder.  For instance the murder is described as being:

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“Murder most foul, as in the best it is,

But this most foul, strange, and unnatural”  (Act 1 scene 5)

The description is extremely dramatic, as it is shocking to find out that the king was actually murdered and then to find out that it was in such a horrific manner.  The murder is probably one of the main reasons why Hamlet feels so trapped, because firstly finding out that a murder could have actually happened, makes the whole place seem so much smaller and gives the idea that anything could happen and makes what is supposed to ...

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