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Hamlet, one of world's most appraised tragedies, was written in 1601 by William Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet, considered to be the greatest dramatist of all time. Hamlet is a brilliant play that explores the highly complex personality of the title character, the crown prince of Denmark, and demonstrates themes of honour and revenge. Although Hamlet prominently displays the main characteristics of a tragedy the eminent death of the leading characters - Shakespeare also incorporates a number of comic elements. He does this for variety of reasons. First of all, the occasional use of humour allows the audience to take a brief pause from the monotony of a depressing storyline. Secondly, via humour and riddles, the prince, Hamlet, is able to mock other people, in their presence. Finally, the comical scenes provide a valuable insight into some of the characters' personalities.

William Shakespeare, as a clever dramatist, knew that if a play is completely filled with melancholy events, the audience will easily lose interest. This fact was especially important during the Elizabethan times when the most frequent visitors of theatres were people of the lower society. These simple folks, who came to theatre to forget their every day's ordeal, preferred comedy to tragedy. As a result of this, Shakespeare incorporates bits of humour in-between the most intense and gloomy scenes. The first comic episode in Hamlet is located in Act , Scene , where Prince Hamlet mocks the royal counsellor through riddles. Their conversation, starting with, "Do you know me my lord? / Excellent well. You are a fishmonger" (II.ii, 17-4), provides a short distraction after the earlier melancholy incident when Hamlet learns the painful truth regarding his father's sudden death. Another excellent example of a passage that serves as a mental breather for the audience is the sex-related talk between Hamlet and Ophelia, who is his sweetheart, when the play "The Murder of Gonzago" is about to begin. At one point, when the time has come for the truth about the murder to be revealed, the audience is kept in great suspense. To break the tense air, Hamlet asks silly questions " Lady, shall I lie in your lap? /Do you think I meant country matters?" ( III.ii, 110,115). This comic conversation is followed by one of the most significant scenes of the play, where Claudius, the new king, shows his guilt in front of the entire royal court by panicking and running out. As a result of this, the suspenseful atmosphere returns as the audience anxiously awaits for the upcoming conflicts and the outcome of the play. Undoubtedly the most amusing part of the play is the intellectual debate between two gravediggers, who discuss legal and theological issues. Their first humorous argument deals with Ophelia's mysterious drowning

Here lies the water-good. Here

stands the man-good. If the man go to this water

and drown himself, it is, will he nill he, he goes,

mark you that. But if the water come to him and

drown him, he drowns not himself. Argal, he that is

not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life (V.i, 15-0).

This debate provides the viewer with necessary comic relief, since it is inserted between scenes loaded with the shocking deaths of, the royal advisor Polonius and Ophelia and the hideous plans between Claudius and Laertes, both of which lead to the largest tragedy of the play. By inserting these humorous scenes, William Shakespeare retains the viewers' continual interest.

Another significant role of comedy in Shakespeare's tragedy is to subdue. The use of humour allows Hamlet, to directly and truthfully tell another person what he thinks of him without causing a notable conflict. Hamlet's intelligence and wittiness surpasses the level of his acquaintances, thus the true meaning of his remarks pass by them unnoticed. A worthy example of this is found at the beginning of the play. During a Royal assembly, King Claudius and his wife, Gertrude, openly criticize Hamlet for his inappropriately long mourning after his father. When Claudius calls Hamlet his "cousin and son", Hamlet swiftly replies, "A little more than kin, less than kind. /my lord, I am too much in the sun" (I. ii, 65,67). Behind these riddles are hidden Hamlet's feelings for Claudius - he dislikes him. Hamlet does not approve of Claudius' actions of marring his brother's wife just a few weeks after his brother's funeral. In addition, Claudius tries too hard to act like a loving father and fails, for Hamlet does not want to replace the one he has lost by a fraud named Claudius. Another case when Hamlet uses his humour and wit to express his empathy is in Act , Scene , where the trusted advisor, Polonius takes on the task of unfolding the truth regarding Hamlet's strange behaviour. Polonius starts a conversation with Hamlet, who quickly realizes the true purpose of it and calls Polonius a "fishmonger" ( II,ii. 14). By calling him a "fishmonger", he accuses Polonius of using his daughter, Ophelia, as bait to lure Hamlet in revealing if his strange ways are caused by his unfulfilled love for Ophelia. In each of these examples, the audience recognizes Hamlet's humour, even thought the characters may not. Therefore, his use of humour is effective in gaining the audience's acceptance for this, sometimes nasty remarks

The third important role that comedy plays in the tragedy of Hamlet, is character exposure. Comic episodes often allow the audience to have a closer look at the personality of the speaker who unintentionally creates comedy by using an unusual way of verbal expression. The first character, whose essential personality traits are unfolded through comedy, is Polonius. Polonius' meddlesome character becomes apparent in the scene, when Polonius instructs a spy named Reynaldo, how to secretively inquire about his son Leartes, who is in Paris. Polonius demands of Reynaldo to regularly report all his son's activities, no matter how intimate they are, "Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, /Quarrelling, drabbing- you may go so far."(II.i, 5-6). This demonstrates that Polonius is a distrusting and controlling man - he spies even on his own children, believing that if they are given their freedom, they will prove to be corrupt. Another humorous situation, that reveals Polonius' personality, is his discussion with the King and Queen regarding the "true cause" of Hamlet's mad behaviour. In exceedingly long speeches, Polonius informs the majesties about Hamlet's relationship with his daughter Ophelia. Through these speeches Polonius proves to be a very long-winded man, who likes to show his extensive knowledge of all subjects. He cares a great deal about his spotless reputations and won't allow anyone, including his daughter, to blacken it. Clear evidence of this is his remark to the royal couple,

But what might you think,

When I had see this hot love on the wing-

As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,

Before my daughter told me- what might you

Or my dear Majesty your queen think,

If I had play'd the desk or table-book,…(II.ii,11-6 ).

These are just some examples of Polonius' numerous speeches in which he demonstrates his self-absorbed nature. Another character whose personality is exposed through comedy is Osiric, a young courtier, who carries Claudius' message to Hamlet, proposing the duel between Laertes and Hamlet. Although Osiris is a minor character, who appears only in the concluding scenes of the play, his exaggerated, amusing speeches provide a good insight into his character. When Osiric enters the play for the first time, as a carrier of Claudius' serious message to Hamlet, Hamlet teases him by starting a conversation about the weather conditions and whether it is needed to wear a hat inside or not. Instead of expressing his own opinion, Osiric agrees to whatever Hamlet says, no matter how ridiculous it may sound. This proves that Osiric is self-centred man, who does everything to please his masters, in order to enhance his own reputation and position on the court of Denmark. There is further evidence displaying Osiric's flattery

Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes believe

me, an absolute gentleman, full of excellent

difference, of very soft society and great showing.

Indeed, to speak feelingly of this, he is the card or

calendar of gentry (V.ii, 106-108).

Osiric noticed that King Claudius is a good ally to Laertes so he uses his outwardly verbose to appraise Laertes excellent qualities and flatter the king.

Despite the fact that Hamlet is a tragic play, William Shakespeare allows comic elements to play a role in this drama as well. The comedy in Hamlet not only serves as a mental breather for the viewers, but also exposes the personality traits of some characters and allows Prince Hamlet to ridicule particular people in their presence. Overall, Hamlet is another of Shakespeare's excellent works, which's exceptional characters and events capture the hearts of viewers across the whole world.

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