Shakespeare "Hamlet" - Appearance vs. Reality.

Essay by fragglerock_87College, Undergraduate January 2004

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Hamlet - Appearance vs. Reality

Hamlet one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, where the young

prince of Denmark must uncover the truth about his fathers death.

Hamlet a play that tells the story of a young prince who's father

recently died. Hamlets uncle Claudius marries his mother the queen

and takes the throne. As the play is told Hamlet finds out his father

was murdered by the recently crowned king. The theme that remains

conezt throughout the play is appearance versus reality. Things

within the play appear to be true and honest but in reality are

infested with evil. Many of the characters within the play hide

behind a mask of falseness. Four of the main characters that hid

behind this mask are Polonius, Rosencrantz (Guildenstern), the king

Cluadius. From behind this mask they give the impression of a person

who is sincere and genuine, in reality they are plagued with lies and

evil. There appearance will make it very difficult for Hamlet to

uncover the truth, the characters hide behind.

Polonius the kings royal assiezt has a preoccupation with

appearance. He always wants to keep up the appearance of loving and

caring person. Polonius appears like a man who loves and cares about

his son, Laertes. Polonius speaks to his son with advice that sounds

sincere but in reality it is rehearsed, hollow and without feeling.

Polonius gives his advice only to appear to be the loving caring

father. The reality is he only speaks to appear sincere as a

politician, to look good rather then actually be good: "And borrowing

dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be

true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be

false to any man. Farewell; my blessing season this in...