Questions 7 and 9

Diction and figurative language are strong aspects of Shakespeare writing that truly develop and craft characters of depth and personality. For example in Act II Scene VI, figurative language really gives a view into who Hamlet is and what drives his revenge. It also serves to force the reader to question the rationality and state of mind of Hamlet. For instance, Hamlet speaks very strongly in describing his revenge like a "beast". He gives bloody and gruesome images of the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother. These grotesque images set the stage for Hamlet's further actions and paint a more vivid picture of who Hamlet is.