Shakespeare

Shakespeare In any play, the opening act is essential to the purpose of outlining the main themes and characters of the piece. It also reveals the plot and the mood of the play to the audience. Act I of Hamlet is very successful in outlining these aspects and yet is also successful in highlighting the atmosphere of the play and in doing so, suggesting aspects of the play as a whole. Shakespeare communicates this using a variety of dramatic techniques and I will also be outlining these in this essay. One of the most important aspects that is revealed in this act is that of the themes of the play. There are various themes that are suggested but I will comment on those that I consider most important; those of conflict and appearance versus reality. The theme of conflict is one that is emphasised from the start of the Act. The setting which Shakespeare starts the play is dark, desolate and "bitter cold". This aids with the atmosphere of tension as it emphasises the atmosphere that is being communicated; one of tension which in turn suggests play, conflict, act, theme, hamlet, atmosphere, aspects, themes, outlining, one, communicated, yet, versus, tension, successful, shakespeare, regards, reality, point, military, inner, important, highlighted, essential, early, consider, between, audience, appearance, yourself, written, within, whole, very, various, variety, using, unfold, turn, therefore, text, techniques, suggests, suggesting, suggested, subtle, struggle, starts, start, stand, shakespeare's