Here are a few ways Shakespeare uses humor in Hamlet:
- Hamlet feigns madness as a strategy, allowing him to say shocking things to other characters under the guise of insanity. This creates darkly comedic moments that relieve tension.
- Hamlet interacts humorously with the players he brings to Elsinore, coaching them and making jokes about their performance, despite the serious matters weighing on his mind.
- Minor characters like Polonius and Osric provide unintentionally funny moments through their pompous and bumbling behavior, creating comic relief amidst the tragedy unfolding.
- Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy has hints of black comedy