Hamlet Essay

     The play of Hamlet contains techniques on how people communicate with each other in the play. Three ways include locutionary force, illocutionary force, and perlocutionary force. Along with these, there are also other techniques like self-overhearing that are used as well. So here are how they're put into play into the play.

   Locutionary Force is the ability for language to deliver a message, and the understanding of the message. One example of this is in Act II, Scene II when it becomes apparent that Hamlet might be going insane. Everyone, who includes Polonius, Guildenstern, and Rosencrantz, start to see and become aware that Hamlet is starting to act crazy. While this is what they understand, they are still unsure of what exactly is making him act this way.

   Illocutionary Force is what is done in being said. For example, giving an order, or denying a request. This is shown in Hamlet during Act I, Scene V when Hamlet makes his first encounter with the ghost, which is discovered to be his father. The ghost makes an order for Hamlet to go and kill King Claudius as revenge for Claudius killing King Hamlet. Another example of the illocutionary force is between acts III and IV, when King Claudius makes an order for Hamlet to be sent to England to be executed.

   Perlocutionary Force is what is achieved by being said, or a followed order. Most of the play itself is about this idea, and that is Hamlet's revenge on Claudius. Hamlet's revenge on Claudius has caused quite a few events to occur. First, one event that happens is the play that Hamlet sets up to place guilt onto Claudius. Then after the play, Claudius then gives order to send Hamlet to England, and plots more techniques to try and kill Hamlet, which then leads to the deaths of both Hamlet and Claudius.

   Self-Overhearing is listening to oneself when talking to get a general idea of how they're acting and how they feel. This used throughout the play in soliloquies. Since Hamlet is only talking to himself in a soliloquy, he can understand his feelings and his thoughts. It can easily be seen that he is upset, depressed, and feeling suicidal over the death of his father, and his mission to kill Claudius.

  So these are the techniques used in the play that are used for communication of characters in the play. With the use of locutionary, illocutionary, perlocutionary forces, and self-overhearing gives the characters understanding of what is going on with each other. And not to mention that it's also used in more than just Hamlet.