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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
In 5 pages the author discusses the tone and purpose of humor in "Hamlet." When considering the tone and purpose of humor in the play "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" by William Shakespeare, the gravedigger's scene in which Hamlet addresses the skull of Yorick comes to mind. The entire scene was supposed to be a parody and Shakespeare used clowns as gravediggers to set the tone of this dark form of humor. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_Tonepurp.doc
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to mind. The entire scene was supposed to be a parody and Shakespeare used clowns as gravediggers to set the tone of this dark form of humor.
In this particular scene Hamlet is in a graveyard. He finds the skull of Yorick, who had been a court jester. When a child,
Hamlet knew Yorick and liked him. Hamlet says, "Alas, poor Yorick" (Hirsch, et al PG; Hirsch2, et al, PG) and further that although "my lady" may put on "paint
[make-up] an inch thick, to this favour [condition] she must come" (Hirsch, et al, PG). "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark"
has within this tragedy certain elements of humor, but that humor is dark. The gravediggers scene is in Act V. There are two clowns that appear in this
portion of the play. They underscore the "inevitable tragic movement of the drama with an earthy humor" (Campbell & Quinn 962). According to Draudt (1993), the parodies of
the plays of William Shakespeare in both England and Austria demonstrate "the timelessness of his humor and its continuing popularity" (102). The parodies represent the appeal of "Hamlet" and
other plays by Shakespeare. In fact, the techniques used in Hamlet are used in "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Othello" (Draudt 102). All of these plays were tragedies,
as demonstrated by their names: "The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet;" "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark;" and "The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of
Venice," yet Shakespeare is able to use his dark humor in them. In "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" Shakespeare used his dark humor in the gravediggers scene
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