Irony is a special use of double meaning, as when someone makes a remark which, while clearly saying one thing, hints at a further and different meaning which only certain hearers would understand. The effect of such speech is often bitter and a bit sinister, always concentrated and full of suggestion. Irony maybe of situation as well as of speech, as when Hamlet spares Claudius at his prayers (Act 4, Scene 3), thinking that Claudius is making his peace with God, while in fact, Claudius is merely discovering that he cannot repent and that to continue in villainous intrigue is his only course. The whole bent of Hamlet’s mind, especially in his riddling speeches, is ironical. The device is very effective because of the note of grim humour, the sharp twist it can administer.
Dramatic irony is a special type. It depend on the fact that some characters in the play know more than others and that the audience can see more than any of them. Thus quite innocent remark will have a by no means innocent meaning to the audience. One example o this is Claudius’ speech to Laertes (Act 4, Scene 7). He has diverted Laertes’ revengeful energy onto Hamlet; then he says, “You shortly shall hear more,” (4.7.33) meaning the news of Hamlet’s death in England. But we know from Act 4, Scene 6 that Hamlet has returned and Claudius will hear more in a sense very different from his own meaning.
Using above as a reference to irony and dramatic irony, please discuss how the theme of irony and/or dramatic irony has affected Act 5 of Hamlet.
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Irony is used in essence to convey a signification opposite and incongruent to its literal meaning. This literary or rhetorical device, irony, is clearly seen within tragedies, as ironies in tragedies are a result of the character being ignorant when the audience or reader already sees their tragic fate. Indeed, this literary device is strongly evident in Hamlet. Truly, through differing intentions and attitudes from what is actually stated, denotes irony. Thus irony is present within Act 5 of Hamlet.
Firstly, there is much irony used within the first scene of Act 5 of Hamlet. Irony is seen during the scene where the two gravediggers burry Ophelia. It is known that the two gravediggers are of very low ranking within the chain of being. That is, with the two gravediggers, referred to as clowns, supposedly having such low ranking must have considerably limited knowledge of current occurrences within the kingdom and are known to be uneducated. Hence that they are expected to not know anything, it is ironic that they have been informed of Hamlet’s insanity or of Hamlet being banished to England. The gravedigger says to Hamlet, “’Twill not be seen in him there. There the men are as mad as he” (5.1.146-147). This implies the gravedigger’s knowledge of Hamlet’s insanity and how he was banished to England. In fact this is also ironic because little does the gravedigger know that he is speaking to Hamlet the prince of Denmark. There is also irony in the fact that the gravedigger manages to convey intellectual attributes within his conversation with the other gravedigger. “It must be se offendendo, it cannot be else For here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act, and an act hath three branches-it is to act” (5.1.9-11). Likewise, it is also ironic how Hamlet fails to realize that it is Ophelia’s, the girl he loved, dead body that is being buried-this is a form of tragic irony. With all of this in mind, it is clear that there is a strong sense of irony in Scene one of Act 5.
It is also evident that irony is present in Act 2 of Hamlet. Within this scene, Laertes is killed by the poison of his own sword which was ironically suppose to be used to kill Hamlet. Indeed it is ironic that Laertes is killed by his own sword. “The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenom’d. The foul practice Hath turn’d itself on me. Lo, here I lie” (5.2.322-324). In addition, there is also a form of Socratic irony as to when Hamlet walks into his own death. This is clear when Hamlet first pretends to have no knowledge of Laertes’cunning scheme to kill him. However, there is irony when Hamlet denotes that he knows that he is readily about to face his death, revealing that what Laertes failed to realize was how Hamlet had knowledge of some sort of scheme where he is going to be killed and Laertes is also about to face his death. Thus, Hamlet reveals the ignorance of Laertes. Hamlet says, “The readiness is all” (5.2.218), denoting that he is ready to face his death. Thus, irony is present with Laertes being slain by his own sword and by Hamlets knowledge of his death.
Therefore, irony is a commonly used literary device in Act 5 of Hamlet. Indeed, irony is used to deepen the engagement of the play.
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