Fig Language/ Imagery- Blog #6

Through carefully chosen syntax, diction, and meter, Shakespeare defines Claudius and Gertrude’s culpability in their current situations. Thus, Shakespeare’s craftsmanship of language enables him to create the roles necessary to fulfill his plot. The playwright used lightweight language for Gertrude because he needed a petty queen and stilted language for King Claudius, crucial for his imitation of his nearest royal model, Hamlet Sr. By imitating his brother, Claudius fools himself and this deception creates a degree of dysfunction by definition. Claudius and Gertrude’s syntax, vocabulary, and meter, depending on their situations, create these duplicitous impressions imperative for the actors, audience, and themes. Furthermore, Shakespeare’s figurative language is transformational, manipulating the audience’s imagination through verbal communication, rather than visual setting. Even without physical descriptions, the reader still draws a mental picture based on the characters’ speech.