Most of the dramatic irony in Hamlet stems from his decisions to conceal his real mental state from those around him. The dramatic irony is important to this scene because it fosters an environment in which dangerous misunderstandings can take place. His attempts to conceal his knowledge from the other characters in the play create dramatic irony, when the audience understands things about Hamlet’s behavior that other characters cannot. However, the audience has knowledge that Polonius and Ophelia don’t, and their understanding of Hamlet’s behavior creates tension in the scene.Įarlier in the play, Hamlet vows to start acting crazy, and the audience therefore understands that the source of his anger and confusion is the news that his father was murdered.
Because Polonius had previously encouraged Ophelia to spurn Hamlet’s advances, they see his behavior as evidence that he has become more invested. Polonius and Ophelia both conclude that Hamlet is behaving strangely because he has fallen madly in love with Ophelia.
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