Essay about The Cynical Humor of Hamlet - 715 Words

The Cynical Humor of Hamlet A horrible event, such as a death in the family, can cause a cynical outlook on life. â€Å"Hamlets hubris is shown through his cynical humor towards others† (Adelman 164). Hamlet uses humor to escape his cynical reality in regards to Polonius, Ophelias father, Ophelia his true love, and Gertrude, his mother the queen. These three people help lead Hamlet to his eventual downfall. Hamlets conversation with Polonius is a good example of the Princes cynical humor. For example, Hamlet asks Polonius if he is an honest man. Polonius is taken off guard: Honest my lord? Ay sir. To be honest, as this world, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. (II; ii; 177-178) Hamlets humor†¦show more content†¦The word sun has two meanings. It can be used as the sun, referring to his cynicism towards Claudius. Ophelia is like the sun and if she falls near the King, he will be a bad influence on her. It can also be looked as the son. The son of Ophelia will be crazy because its father, Hamlet is crazy. He is beginning to show the antic deposition act. Both conversations with Polonius show that Hamlets humor brings out the truth in the people around him. Ophelia, Hamlets true love starts to see the new Hamlet, the crazy Hamlet. He plays with her mind, by throwing out double meanings that are confusing, yet they have meaning to it. Ha ha! Are you honest? Are you fair? (III, i, 103-105) Hamlet could mean honesty in the meaning of being truthful and faithful in love, or virginal. He then asks if she is fair. Fair in beauty, or fair in his love. Both these questions arise confusion with Ophelia. Hamlet also shows his cruelty towards Ophelia. Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?...Go thy ways to a nunnery. Wheres your father? (III, i, 120-128) He tells her to go purify herself and become a nun to purify the bawd that she carries with her. He explains to Ophelia that he deceived her into thinking he loved her. Ophelia reacts to Hamlets psychotic rants O, what a noble mind is here othrown (III, I, 147) Ophelia realizes that Hamlet, the man she once knew and loved has now gone mad. Hamlet has an encounter with his mother,Show MoreRelated Hamlets Destructive Humor Essay802 Words   |  4 PagesHamlets Destructive Humor      Ã‚   Humor can be funny and uplifting or cynical and destructive. Hamlets humor insults every one around him and its very cynical and leads to his downfall. When Hamlet insults people around him, his remarks are not clearly understood by the people who he is insulting. Hamlet makes Polonius look like a fool when he criticizes him with his words, and Polonius doesnt know that he is being fooled. 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