The importance of language in Hamlet and The Revenger's Tragedy

• Polonius: ‘What do you read my lord?’ Hamlet: ‘Words, words, words.’
• many word duels in Hamlet, Only the clown can match his wit.
• Hamlet mirrors people’s languages – for example he matches the ghost’s language after he meets him, but ghost also mirrors his use of the word 'foul'
• Hamlet’s language becomes more erratic as he tries to make himself the archetypal revenger – “keep his wounds green”
• “I am mad but north-north-west.” Lots of hidden meanings, riddling – playing the part of the fool?
• Ophelia also alter plays the part of the fool when she turns “mad”.
• Soliloquies to illuminate what they are thinking however, Vindice uses them not to ponder, but to plan revenge
• Ophelia loved Hamlet's 'words of such sweet breath composed'
• Duplicity of language important in revealing the conflict between inner and outer
• Titles given to people important such as 'uncle-father and aunt-mother'
• Hendiadys and doubling
• Hamlet constantly addressed as 'my lord'
• Language of excess – emphasise sin
• Letters used to sentence the character to death – never seen in physical form, are they trustworthy?
• Hamlet's letters to Ophelia bought into open, pored over, intrusion into privacy
• Polonius demands to know what Laertes and Ophelia were talking of
• Language used to give subjective account of what has happened offstage - preparations for war, Ophelia's death, Hamlet's adventures with pirates
• The power of the 'tongue' in Revenger's Tragedy
• Vindice was able to trick his mother into prostituting his sister
• In the Revenger’s Tragedy, most characters use asides to undermine the other characters – also give the audience information – the audience is submerged within the play
• Junior Brother unable to resist from insert his own comments whilst reading the letter from his brothers – product of society, excessiveness, no subtlety. He does not even trust the letter – no truth to words