How Does Shakespeare Use Dramatic Irony In A Midsummer Night's Dream

    The existence of considerable irony within the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet is a fact recognized by most literary critics. This paper will examine the play for instances of irony and their interpretation by critics.

Dramatic irony is when the audience or reader knows the words and actions of the characters in a work of literature, but certain characters in the story do not know them. The reader or audience has a greater knowledge of many of the characters themselves. Shakespeare employs dramatic irony in many of his tragedies; so that the audience is engaged, and so they are able to witness characters errors in their action, predict the fate of the characters, and experience feelings of tragedy and grief. As a tragedy, Hamlet deals with the problems that arise as a result of Hamlet's attempt to avenge his father's death. Throughout the play Hamlet is on the search of his self, while his actions are shaping who he really is. As he is attempting to

However, in literature there are many types of irony. The first one is verbal irony which is also referred as sarcasm . Verbal irony can be defined as the contrast between what is said and what is actually meant. Julius Caesar, historical play written by William Shakespeare, contains an important example for verbal irony: "Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; and Brutus is an honorable man" (Act 3, Scene 2, Page 5). This phrase is said by Mark Antony who actually implies that Brutus is an ignoble man.

Imagine you are Bottom, and you wake up finding your friends running in fear, once they see you. You, Bottom, are the “victim” in this dramatic irony example. Dramatic Irony is when the audience, or other characters know something that the character doesn’t. Throughout the play, dramatic irony is used to build tension and humor in the play. During the play, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, there were also other examples of dramatic irony besides Bottom. Hermia and Lysander were true loves, but once they were seperated by Lysander’s new love, everything changed. Also a fairy queen, Titania, falls in love with Bottom, a worker who looks different. A Midsummer’s Night Dream is filled with many examples of dramatic irony to make the play interesting.

This essay will begin to explore Hamlet through a New Criticism lens by focusing on ironies, symbols, and themes brought up throughout the play. There are three different forms of irony that are focused on in Hamlet. The first one is dramatic irony, dramatic irony is when the reader knows something that they characters do not. This occurs when an event takes place that is unexpected by the character. For example, the reader finds out that Claudius is the one who killed the king based on what they ghost says to Hamlet(Act 1, Scene 5).

Dramatic irony can be used to create a lot of emotions and set up many circumstances and outcomes. In Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing he uses dramatic irony to create love and suspense. He creates love with Benedick and Beatrice, and also with Claudio and Hero. He then uses Don John, Claudio and Don Pedro to create suspense.

William shakespeare uses dramatic irony in the play Romeo and Juliet to enhance and develop the plot of scene 3. The dramatic irony that shakespeare uses is when Juliet is crying over the banishment of Romeo when people around her thinks it’s over Tybalt’s death. Shakespeare uses this in enhancing the fact that no one around her likes Romeo. “Evermore weeping for your cousin's death? What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?” -Lady Capulet, her mother, not knowing that in fact Juliet has married the person that killed her brother-in-law’s son and is more sad about her husband leaving her than a family member passing ”Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?” -Juliet. With that said, leading into the next use of dramatic irony.

The most important use of irony in Hamlet is situational. He uses this type of irony to catch Claudius, which is the turning point of the story. He also uses situational irony to crown Denmark’s biggest enemy king. The situational irony of the play within a play is that it resembles how Hamlet Sr. dies and the fact that Claudius does slip on his emotions. The reader gets some important details about Hamlet’s character through his use of irony: he is smart, does not trust Claudius, and knows how to use his vast knowledge of literature to set up Claudius. Hamlet suspects Claudius killed his father and tells the actor “let

Lastly, he uses dramatic irony in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He uses this type of irony

Dramatic irony is successfully used in act one, scene five when the ghost discloses he was poisoned by Claudius, increasing tension between the characters while simultaneously engaging the audience, because now only Hamlet and the audience know who murdered Hamlet's father. After this discovery, the audience sides with Hamlet and begins to hate Claudius alongside, in turn opening up Hamlet’s thoughts to the audience displaying a different side of Hamlet’s character. Similarly, in Richard III dramatic irony ensues when Richard informs the audience about his disapproval with the political situation in the opening soliloquy, letting the audience in on his plan to kill his brother Clarence, increasing tension between the characters and displaying a different side of Richard. Since Richard is deceitful (appearance) to the other characters, they are left in the dark while the audience is hearing Richard’s thoughts, (reality) indirectly forcing the audience to choose Richard’s side, in turn showing the audience first hand how his deception and deceit lead straight

Many literary critics point to the considerable irony that exists in Shakespeare's Hamlet. This paper examines the play for instances of irony and surveys their interpretation by critics.

William Shakespeare uses many literary devices to enhance and provide greater complexity in his works. More specifically, the theme, symbolism, and dramatic irony are used to enrich Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello. The plot is definitely engaging but the theme allows for an universal human correspondence, furthering the depth of the author’s message. The element of symbolism contributes to the theme of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Symbolism expresses elaborate concepts, which further intrigues the readers. Another literary tool Shakespeare uses to enrich his piece is dramatic irony. The powerful device of dramatic irony is intended to maintain the audience 's interest by establishing a

There are three forms of irony which include: verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony. Verbal irony is when a character says the opposite of what they mean while situational irony, occurs when the opposite of what the audience expects to happen, happens. Finally, dramatic irony, one of the most common forms of irony found in Julius Caesar, occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do

Dramatic irony is one of the most evident devices used in the play. The term ‘dramatic irony’ is defined as an idea/ plot that the reader or audience knows off in a story or play but the character in the play do not. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the existence of fairies is a major dramatic irony. The fairies are the mystical creatures that inhibit and lurk around in the

This play reveals the conflict between four complicated relationships. One being the King and Queen of the fairies, another being the marriage between Athens and Hippolyta. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the conflict amongst the four lovers begins with Hermia and Lysander. They are in love with each other, but Hermia’s farther Egeus, has planned for his daughter to marry the elegant man named Demetrius. The reader see’s that Demetrius is in love with Hermia, but Hermia is deeply in love with Lysander. Helena is the other mysterious lovers, she is one of Hermia’s best friend. Helena is in love with