Hamlet

In the play Hamlet a crime is commited by a brother against his own blood. This crime is a central event of the play that two main characters each reflect upon in their own manner. Shakespeare uses many tools including tone and syntax to reveal how each character feels about the event.

Tone is an important aspect of all Shakespeare's works. In lines 42-44 the kings language and tone reveal his feelings of betrayal by his brother, "That adulterate beast...witchcraft of his wits...his shameful lust." The king also expresses a vengeful tone against his brother in lines 81-84,"If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not..." Clearly the king wishes that Hamlet would expose the crimes of his uncle and avenge his father's death. In contrast to the ghost's opinion of the crime, King Claudius feels mixed remourse and self serving ambition. In lines 36-39, Claudius compares his crime to the crime of Cain in the Bible. "It hath the primal eldest curse upon't..." Further along in his spe...