Reality, Illusion, Appearance, and Deception in Shakespeares Hamlet Es

Reality, Illusion, Appearance, and Deception in Shakespe bes Hamlet As appearances play an important role in todays society, so they also play an important role in William Shakespeares play Hamlet. From the first scene to the last, Shakespeare elaborates on the theme of appearance versus honesty through plot and character. The plays plot is teeming of incidents and events that are not what they appear to be. One such incident is Ophelias forked death. When, from the Queen, the audience first learns of her passing, the girls death seems very peaceful, poetic and accidental. But later, during the cemetery Scene, when the clowns are discussing her death, they classify it as a suicide. Does Ophelia, as it appears, absent-mindedly set keister too far into the murky waters and, held down by her effectual garments, meets with her untimely death? Or, does she, mad with grief caused by Hamlets insanity and her fathers death, volitionally march to her muddy grave? Another exam ple occurs when Laertes, Ophelias brother, and King Claudius cast the Triple-Pronged purpose. They set up a duel between Hamlet and Laertes. Since some(prenominal) young men are presumably using bated swords, this skirmish appears to be a simple, ordinary fencing match, no one lead get hurt. Despite its harmless appearance, this duel proves deadly, for not only does Laertes plan to use an unbated and poisoned sword, but Claudius also prepares a poisoned drink for Hamlet. There are also many spy plots set up during the play which whitethorn also be considered as deceiving events. These spy plots demonstrate the appearance versus reality theme since they are invisible to the spied upon, but weave a weathervane of dishonesty. In Act II, Scene... ...C. Quote. Literary Companion to British Authors William Shakespeare. San Diego Greenhaven, 1996. Danson, Lawrence. Tragic Alphabet. contemporary deprecative Interpretations Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York City Chelsea House Pub lishers, 1986. 65-86 Findlay, Alison. Hamlet A put down in Madness. New Essays on Hamlet. Ed. Mark Thornton Burnett and John Manning. New York AMS Press, 1994. 189-205. Hopkins, Lisa. Parison and the unacceptable Comparison. New Essays on Hamlet. Ed. Mark Thornton Burnett and John Manning. New York AMS Press, 1994. 153-164. Rose, Mark. Reforming the Role. Modern Critical Interpretations Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York City Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 117-128 Wiggins, Martin. Hamlet Within the Prince. New Essays on Hamlet. Ed. Mark Thornton Burnett and John Manning. New York AMS Press, 1994. 209-226.