Question

King Hamlet's ghost tells us that he was killed when his brother dropped poison into his ear. Metaphorically, what might be Shakespeare's message to us about the power of words?

Answer 1

Shakespeare metaphorically conveys the power of words in King Hamlet's murder. Words can harm emotionally, manipulate, and deceive just as poison can physically harm. Claudius uses his words to manipulate and deceive others, leading to tragic consequences.

Step-by-step explanation:

Shakespeare's message about the power of words can be seen metaphorically in King Hamlet's murder. Just as poison was used to kill King Hamlet, words can be used as a metaphorical poison that can harm or even kill someone emotionally. This suggests that words have the power to manipulate and deceive, just as poison can physically harm.

For example, in the play, Claudius uses his words to manipulate and deceive others, leading to tragic consequences. He uses his words to convince Gertrude to marry him, to deceive the court about his actions, and to ultimately lead to Hamlet's downfall. This illustrates the destructive power of words when used maliciously.