Use of Irony in A Streetcar Named Desire and Hamlet Essay

In both A Streetcar Named Desire and Hamlet, Tennessee Williams and William Shakespeare, respectively, demonstrate their abilities to create engaging plays which work on several levels in order to produce the desired effect. One of the most important characteristics of these plays is the playwrights success in using their words to create the worlds surrounding their works. Both Shakespeare and Williams effectively use irony in the aforementioned plays, both in the plot and with specific symbolism, to create mildly existential environments where effective irony is a confirmation of fate and justice. Immediately apparent to the reader upon completion of these two works is the glaring appearance†¦show more content†¦Hamlets insanity is also ironical, as it begins as a ploy simply to remove Claudius suspicions of his discovery, and ends with Hamlet bordering on actual insanity and Claudius suspicions only being increased and confirmed. With Gertrude, Shakespeare creates an arguably undynamic character who simply follows Claudius requests, until; of course, she decides to drink the poison. Williams uses subtle irony in his play, although he incorporates a more symbolic approach, using names and political allusions. It is ironic that the coarse, violent sexuality of the Kowalskis exists in Elysian Fields, the Greeks equivalent to heaven, and the Belle Reve, the beautiful dream, is a place replete with fornication and deterioration. Stella, or Star, is truly not a star, and Blanche is truly not white or pure. Symbolism on this theme of purity is also apparent when Blanche is unable to blot out the spot on her dress, just as she is unable to blot out her spotted past. Inclusion of these subtle ironies by the playwrights adds depth and insight to the worlds they have created. Possibly the most powerful and significant use of irony by the playwrights is the inclusion of poetic justice as the outcomes of the characters is