Essay about Appearance vs. Reality in Shakespeare's Hamlet
497 Words2 Pages
Appearance vs. Reality in Shakespeare's Hamlet
In Hamlet deceiving illusions are frequently used to protect truth from being a destructive force. Situations within acts one and two that appear to be true and honest are really contaminated with evil. Various characters within the first two acts hide behind masks of corruption. In the first two acts most characters presented seem to be good and honest making it a complex task for Hamlet to discover all the lies that have hidden objectives within them.
Shakespeare brilliantly depicts appearance verses reality in many ways. The first of many scenes where the truth is twisted is when the new supposed king is addressing Denmark. Claudius makes it seem as if Denmark is fine but in…show more content…
Claudius is not the only fraudulent character in the first two scenes where the theme of appearance verses reality is prevalent. When Hamlet’s mother tries to get Hamlet to accept the fact that all things in nature die she asks him, “If it be, Why seems it so particular to thee?” (I, II, 79) Hamlet responds with, “ “Seems,” madam? Nay, it is I know not “seems.” ” (I, II, 79) Hamlet accepts the fact that all things in nature eventually die, yet he refuses to believe the appearance of how his father dies. The queen is again applied to this theme when she addresses Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet:
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks As it fits the king’s remembrance. (II, II, 24)
Gertrude makes it seem as if she and Claudius are recruiting Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to help cheer Hamlet up. In reality they are recruited to spy on Hamlet and see what his plans are.
The theme of appearance versus reality in acts one and two is repeated to show the true motives of different characters. Since most of the characters in acts one and two are corrupt, they rely on fraud to get what they want. The first impression of characters in acts one and two is being true to their intentions, honest, and pure, nevertheless, the reader knows that things are not as they seem. These lies
Appearence vs. Reality in William Shakespeare's Hamlet Essay
1671 Words7 Pages
﻿Appearance vs. Reality
In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, there is a dominant and overwhelming theme that is concurrent throughout the play. Throughout the play, all the characters appear as one thing on the outside, yet on the inside they are completely different. The theme of appearance versus reality surrounds Hamlet due to the fact that the characters portray themselves as one person on the outside, and one different on the inside. In the play, Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, appears to be kind, gentle, and caring on the outside, but in actual fact, he uses his loving behavior as a mask to cover up the fact that he is a selfish, mean, and cold murderer. The women in Hamlet appear to live happy and…show more content…
He struggles to get out his prayer, because he is unsure that he will be forgiven. He wants to repent for his sin, but he knows that he can’t because he is not truly sorry.
In (3.3.58-59) Claudius list some reasons why he can ask for forgiveness. He says “Of those effects for which I did the murder- my crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.” Claudius realizes that his outside wants to seek forgiveness but his inside can not give up the positions that gained. Claudius thus realizes that he has to separate his own deceptive illusion from of true feelings. The women in Hamlet exemplify the theme of appearance versus reality as well. Ophelia and Gertrude display deceptive illusions to hide the corruptions of their lives. Ophelia shields her love for Hamlet in the beginning of the play, but eventually is forced to throw herself to Hamlet, at her father’s request. Ophelia exaggerates her love for Hamlet, so her father can prove to the king and queen that Hamlet’s madness comes from his love for Ophelia. Hamlet senses that
Ophelia love is not genuine, and therefore treats her with disgust. He assaults Ophelia with words, and also with his actions, which included killing her father, though unintentional. Hamlet begins displaying acts of cruelty towards Ophelia, by using malicious sarcasm. He tells her to “Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where’s your father?…… Let the doors be shut upon