|
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 frightened that
Hamlet is aware of his lethal secret. It was as if he cast a spell on
the whole kingdom for his own self-fulfilling interest. Our “innocent”
Claudius even summons spies to investigate the origin of Hamlet’s
madness…not for the good of Hamlet but for himself. He is indeed a
jaded character, whose kind aura masks the face of a selfish murderer.
–“whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter, as levels as the cannon to
his blank transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name and hit the
woundless air. oh come away! My soul is full of discord and dismay!”-
Claudius, act 4 scene 1, lines 42-46. This quote demonstrates how
Claudius seems to be worried about Hamlet and his actions when he is
really fearful of him discovering the truth.
Polonius appears to be a loyal and trustworthy servant to the
kingdom, willing to take on tasks and burdens requested by their
majesties. In reality Polonius is an evil, greedy selfish man, who
serves not his kingdom but himself. Polonius appears to be happy,
concerned and supportive of his son, Laertes, journey to France. He
seems to be behind his son one hundred percent. Of course not shortly
after his son left he sent Reynaldo to spy on him and see what sort of
mischief he is up to in France. Polonius is a large spy in general. He
also spies on Hamlet and Ophelia in an attempt to analyze Hamlet’s
madness. He spies again on Hamlet when he is in the bedchamber with his
mother and also with Tiresius. Hamlet taught him his lesson when he
murdered that “rat.” In reality Polonius is anything but a loving
father watching out for his children, he uses everyone to his advantage
and for his own purposes, this proves as evidence for his sneaky
demeanor.
Even two of Hamlet’s childhood friends are victims of the appearance
vs. reality theme. They were sent and bribed by the king and queen to
try and determine the cause of Hamlet’s insanity. They approach Hamlet
as long-lost pals when they are really anything but. They were there
not as friends but hired help for Hamlet’s condition. In act 2 scene 2
line 299, Guildenstern quotes “What should we say my lord?” Completely
denying the fact that they were sent for by the king and queen.
Throughout the play everyone puts up a front so to speak, for
different reasons. Hamlet believed that the world was corrupt and
deceiving, this led him to become violently ambitious. Claudius was
manipulative and cunning, and used his greed to achieve what he
desired. Deception is a major theme of the play.
Although Gertrude is not really deceiving anyone, she uses the
appearance of her life to shield her reality, a reality in which she is
perhaps haunted by guilt and sorrow, and is hunting for comfort, a
comfort that she discovers in Claudius. Even characters such as
Fortinbras and Guildenstein have ulterior motives throughout the play.
Fortinbras appears to be a strong leader and vows to obey his uncle
when ordered not to advance, in reality his intentions were always to
take the money his uncle gave him and continue his advance in order to
conquer Denmark.
Obviously throughout the play there are many discrepancies between
appearance vs. reality. It seems everyone is jaded and full of
deception or ulterior motives. With such controversial people in the
kingdom, it is quite appropriate to state that there truly is something
rotten in the state of Denmark.
|
|
|
(0 vote)