Hamlet: The Drama Behind It All
Most of Shakespeare pieces of writing are fictional. His other pieces are based on an old story Shakespeare had adapted. His writing has many twists and changes that engages the reader and allows them to read more. Shakespeare’s works of art are all written in the form of a play as opposed to a novel or short story. Shakespeare uses literary devices and a huge amount of imagination to come up with these fascinating stories. The story of Hamlet begins when King Hamlet died and was eventually buried. Prince Hamlet, his son, found a mysterious ghost inside the castle which drives him to take vengeance on his father’s death and seek revenge on Claudius for his father’s murderer. True this can be seen as a "tragedy" but Hamlet isn't just any tragedy—it's a classic and revengeful tragedy!
One literary device that Shakespeare uses in this particular play is antithesis. Antithesis is contrary ideas expressed in a balanced sentence. He uses this literary device when he writes, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” (Barnet, Burto, & Cain, 2014). He is expressing opposite ideas of being or not being, living or dying. Another, antithesis example in Hamlet, is when Claudius asks Hamlet about the clouds. Hamlet replies, “Too much in the sun” (Barnet, Burto, & Cain, 2014). Hamlet contrasts imagery of clouds to rain and storms. Also the grief to imagery of sun to joy and happiness. As he does this sarcastically, he also puns the word “sun” with “son” as he is bitter about losing his father and having Claudius as his new “father.” Shakespeare uses these antitheses to heighten the drama and describe the relationship between these two men. Hamlet is able to draw attention to the fact that he does not directly answer his uncle’s questions, but is able to describe his feelings instead by using antithesis. This antithesis shows that Hamlet is tired of being the son of Claudius; he is the direct opposition than what his uncle believes. Shakespeare also uses allusions to express the thoughts of Hamlet and his feelings towards the people around him. Hamlet’s mom, Queen Gertrude remarried to Claudius. Hamlet expresses his feelings for his mother clearly when he compares his father to his step-father. Hamlet tells his mother, "So excellent a king that was to this, Hyperion to a satyr. So loving to my mother” (Barnet, Burto, & Cain, 2014). This example shows Hamlet's feelings for his dead father and as his hatred for Claudius, whom is his father's brother and murderer. Since satyrs are often associated with lustful tendencies and drunkenness, this comparison shows Hamlet's true feelings for Claudius. Furthermore, Hamlet does not just think of his father as a titan, but also a source of light that shows hope and happiness in which comparing his father to a Hyperion shows. In addition to making his feelings well-known for Claudius, Hamlet also expresses his feelings towards his mother by comparing her with the Trojan Queen, Hecuba. Hamlet says, "Say on: Come to Hecuba” (Barnet, Burto, & Cain, 2014). Hamlet uses Hecuba to amplify the difference between the Hecuba, who is full of grief and sorrow, and Queen Gertrude who has shown little remorse for her dead first husband.
Shakespeare uses a lot of imagination to write his plays and books. The story of Hamlet is so detailed and full of surprises. Unless you have personally experienced this type of situation it would be hard to come up with this kind of story without using your imagination. When the reader goes through the play, they too must use their imagination to picture what the writer wants the reader to feel and see. When the Ghost appears to Hamlet; to show imagery, Shakespeare says –“List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (Barnet, Burto, & Cain, 2014). This sentence grabs his reader and shows that revenge is what is being sought out. He wanted Hamlet to know the killer is amongst his own people and in the castle. Shakespeare gives imagery by saying, “Now, Hamlet, hear 'Tis given out that, sleeping in mine orchard, A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown” (Barnet, Burto, & Cain, 2014). Shakespeare is grabbing in his reader by using such imagination to describe the scene. At first it is a very hard to read and understand because the language is not the same back than as it is today. However, when taking the time to truly understand Shakespeare’s work, we discover a world far beyond our thinking and we get lost in such an imaginative place.

Reference
Barnet, S., Burto, W., & Cain, W. E. (2014). Literature for Composition: An Introduction to Literature (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.