Hamlet Question on Irony// Thanks Alot for help?

Question

Ok 2 questions on Irony..

1st Question

In Act 1 scene 5 hamlet and the ghost are talking and the ghost reminds hamlet about his descent to hell. The question i cant figure out is what is ironic in Hamlet's reply. Im not sure if the question is reffering to Hamlet saying "O God!" or " Alas poor ghost!" But either way I see no irony in those replies. Maybe I dont have a full understanding of irony.

2nd Question

'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood
And do such bitter business as the bitter day
Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.—
O heart, lose not thy nature, let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom.
Let me be cruel, not unnatural.
I will speak daggers to her but use none.
My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites.
How in my words somever she be shent,
To give them seals never, my soul, consent!

What is the irony in this?

Thanks alot

Answer 1

Irony is where something different happens than what is expected. Why would Hamlet call the ghost poor? Personally, I would be saying "Poor me! I saw a ghost! I have creepy powers and can see dead people!!!)

Answer 2

Webster's new collegiate dictionary defines "irony" as the use of words to express something other than and esp. the opposite of the literal meaning. The line "alas poor ghost" would be ironic if Hamlet felt that the damnation was just, similar to the scene in Dante's Inferno when Virgil reminds Dante that eternal damnation is a mark of God's justice and therefore the suffering deserve neither compassion or pity. Olivier, possibly the 20th century's finest actor and the only man ever to win an Oscar for a film of a Shakesperian play (Hamlet) described it as "the story of a man who couldn't make up his mind". The irony here is that despite his attempt to be passionate and strong, he can't stop qualifying and decide on a clear course of action. The mark of great role, however, is that there is no definitive interpretation. Derek Jacobi played Hamlet as a forcefull and determined man held back solely by a desire for solid evidence before he acted, in which case the passages you site would not have been ironic. Hamlet speaks to different people, and different times, in different ways, to seek one single interpretation as being the "sole correct one" defeats the Bard's purpose of composing a timeless work.

Answer 3

Irony is like say i like apples but i dont like apple pie, or say u hate buses but i had to get on a bus to go to school. in Question 2 most people want to be good and are wanting to do right but it is ironic that this caharacter is hoping and wishing to be evil and to be cruel, but yet he is putting some good in by saying let me be cruel but not unnatural i want to say mean things but not do anything mean the character is a hypocritical he wants to be evil in his soul but not in his actions

the first question i didnt know because i havent read that act

Answer 4

There are plenty of books out there that help you analyse Shakespeares works. Many of the plays actually include footnotes and endnotes.

I used York Notes Advanced - it saved my life and my AS Levels.