Question
Kent. Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain.
I have seen better faces in my time
Than stands on any shoulder that I see
Before me at this instant.
Corn. This is some fellow
Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb
Quite from his nature. He cannot flatter, he!
An honest mind and plain—he must speak truth!
An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.
These kind of knaves I know which in this plainness
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends
Than twenty silly-ducking observants
That stretch their duties nicely.
Use the passage to answer the question. How does the dramatic irony in the passage support Shakespeare's themes regarding the topic of betrayal? Cite evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be one paragraph in length.
I have seen better faces in my time
Than stands on any shoulder that I see
Before me at this instant.
Corn. This is some fellow
Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb
Quite from his nature. He cannot flatter, he!
An honest mind and plain—he must speak truth!
An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.
These kind of knaves I know which in this plainness
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends
Than twenty silly-ducking observants
That stretch their duties nicely.
Use the passage to answer the question. How does the dramatic irony in the passage support Shakespeare's themes regarding the topic of betrayal? Cite evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be one paragraph in length.
Answers
GPT 3.5
The dramatic irony in the passage supports Shakespeare's themes regarding the topic of betrayal by highlighting the deceptive nature of characters. In this scene, Kent is being honest and plain-spoken, while Cornwall misinterprets his words as affectation and assumes he is being deceitful. This irony exposes the corrupt and crafty nature of characters like Cornwall who hide their true intentions behind flattery and manipulation. The passage suggests that those who appear to be loyal and dutiful may actually be more treacherous than those who speak their mind honestly. This aligns with Shakespeare's theme that betrayal often comes from unexpected sources and those who seem trustworthy may be the most dangerous.