Irony in Shakespeare

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at William Shakespeare's use of the power of dramatic irony. His comedies especially are thickly strewn with it as the plots of plays like "As You Like It" and "Twelfth Night" depend on silly plot devices that can only be maintained through a heavy reliance on ironic understandings between the dramatist and the audience. Such an understanding in the comedic plays allows us to appreciate the fallibility of humanity. Shakespeare relies less heavily on irony in the tragedies, although in both "Macbeth" and "Hamlet" the playwright has relied on the use of dramatic irony both to heighten the sense of suspense in the play and to call into question the fitness of both Hamlet and Claudius to serve as king.

From the Paper:

"William Shakespeare was as fond as any great playwright of the power of dramatic irony. His comedies especially are thickly strewn with it as the plots of plays like As You Like It and Twelfth Night depend on silly plot devices that can only be maintained through a heavy reliance on ironic understandings between the dramatist and the audience. Such an understanding in the comedic plays allows us to appreciate the fallibility of humanity. Shakespeare relies less heavily on irony in the tragedies although in both Macbeth and ..."

More papers on Irony in Shakespeare:

• Analytical Essay # 345 : "Shakespeare's Intentional Use of Irony in "Macbeth"
• Creative Essay # 6428 : "Irony as a Principle of Structure"
• Comparison Essay # 25399 : "Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" and Shaw's "Major Barbara"

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