Interpret Many of Shakespeare's characters use puns in their speech. A pun is a play on the multiple meanings of a word or on tw
o words that sound alike but have different meanings. Throughout Hamlet , notes in the margin explain many puns that would be unfamiliar to a modern audience. Although puns are often associated with humor, they can also be an effective way to convey serious meaning. FOr example, in his conversation with Ophelia in Scene 3, Laertes says that Hamlet "himself is subject to his birth" (line 18). Explain how Laertes's statement is enriched by his drawing on two separate meanings of the word subject.
By reading the second passage, the reader can better understand the first passage when they refer to children being sent to childless couples. In the first passage, the author describes everything the second passage is referring to.
