Appearance Vs. Reality In Hamet
Appearance Vs. Reality In Hamet
Appearance vs. reality in Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a jaded yet common theme. This play is teeming with characters that play their roles behind a veil of duplicity. They often appear to be one way when they really are something entirely different.
The most evident player in this game is our beloved Hamlet. He mourns so deeply the death of his father and hatred for his mother’s ignorance that he appears to be quite insane, when in reality he uses this false madness as a decoy to avenge his father’s wrongful murder. Another prime example is his love for Ophelia. He is so hurt by her avoiding him that he uses it to advantage, pushing her away as if in hatred in order to preserve and protect her feelings. He uses his erroneous madness to manipulate and deceive the other characters when in reality he is utilizing an ingenious method of carrying out his master plan. He plays his part incredibly well, through his fake disease he is able to convince Polonius and Ophelia that his reason for the madness is his un-dying love for Ophelia. He accomplishes not only that but is also able to catch Claudius during the play plagued by guilt. Hamlet is extremely tainted by his role for revenge, but his illusionary madness allows him to accomplish his task. –“I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen molt no feather. I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises, and, indeed, it goes heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’er hanging firmament, this majestical roof, fretted with golden fire-why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors.”- Hamlet, act 2 scene 2, lines 316-326.
Then we have our two-faced Claudius. The loyal king and hero of Denmark…. right? Claudius wanted to be king, rule the land and crown his queen. He gave no regard to the feelings of the family. He was jealous and ruthless in pursuing his dream…ruthless to the point of murder. He pretends to be concerned and upset with the actions of Hamlet and his well being, when in reality his is...