Theme Of Diction In Hamlet

In Shakespeare’s tragic play, Hamlet, diction and imagery play an intimidating role in defining the feelings and motives of the main characters. In Act 1, Scene 5, Hamlet has a conversation with his father’s ghost- who has summoned him to the castle’s orchard for the sake of plotting revenge against his murderer, and brother, King Claudius.

Shakespeare’s choice of diction, in this particular dialogue between Hamlet and the ghost of his father, allows the reader glimpse into the ghost’s personal feelings towards Claudius and the Queen. This is intended to push the reader to side with Hamlet and the ghost of his father, and uses harsh diction to do so. For example, the ghost refers to his murderer, and his brother, as “that incestuous, that adulterous beast” (Line 12); this choice of diction shows the king’s warranted anger and gives valid reason to dislike Claudius, the new king.

The previous sentence alone could convince the reader that Claudius was a detestable, self-motivated, and evil man. Even so, to further convey his anger, the ghost of Hamlet’s father uses an array of negative diction so that Hamlet, and the reader, can sympathize with his despair and anger. For example: “O, horrible, most horrible!” (Line 49) in describing the act of his murder, and “Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest” (Line 52) to describe Claudius and the Queen’s affair, the ghost clearly depicts his hatred for Claudius and his new wife. The repetition of ‘horrible’ amplifies both his suffering and his grief over what was taken from him. These accusations, as well as words such as “leprous”, “Loathsome”, and “Vile”, illuminate that the characters of Claudius and the Queen, are to be