Sounds in Poetry: Hamlet

Hamlet's soliloquy at the end of Act II is written in blank verse, ending with a rhyming couplet. Shakespeare uses blank -- unrhymed iambic pentameter -- verse because it is very conversational and natural so the Hamlet can easily convey his innermost thoughts to the audience. Shakespeare inserts a rhyming couplet at the end of his speech to give dramatic closure. Shakespeare uses many rhythmic sound effects. For example, in line 24 Hamlet asks himself "Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?" Here he uses a caesura also to create a dramatic pause that shows his intense confusion. Shakespeare inserts several interjections into Hamlet's soliloquy such as "Ha!" "O, vengeance!" in order to depict Hamlet's erratic state of mind. He also inserts these in their own lines which in turn interrupts the smooth rhythm of the iambic meter. In line 507, Shakespeare uses plosive alliteration with the words "bloody" and "bawdy" which he then juxtaposes with sibilance when Hamlet cries "Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!" By using this plosive alliteration, Shakespeare highlights the contempt Hamlet feels for Claudius whereas the sibilance suggests how sinister the sinning Claudius certainly is.