Appearance versus Reality in Hamlet

Appearance versus Reality in Hamlet
“Hamlet” is a tragedy play by Shakespeare that features Claudius a mean and power-hungry king who takes over the throne after assassinating his brother, the king. Hamlet, the former king’s son learns that his uncle was responsible for his father’s death and vows revenge. The theme that takes center stage in the play is appearance versus reality. Many things and situations in the play appear, to be honest, and real but are in reality not what they seem. Many of the characters within the play assume a deceitful character that does not depict what they are in reality. They hide behind a mask that shows them as sincere and angel-like, but this is not the case.
Hamlet appears to be mad after his father’s death. However, many incidences as well as words in the poem prove that he just feigned madness to confuse the king and his associates so that he could easily carry out his revenge plans. He had vowed to put an antic disposition and act strange (I. v. 170, 172). Polonius was the first to declare him mad and thought that the madness was caused by Ophelia’s when she ceased to love him. He then reported his observation to the king but later noted that though he was mad, there was something strange about it. “Though it shows madness yet there is a method in it” (II. ii.203).Hamlet also notes to his friend Guildenstern that he was only “mad north-north-west’ and that his aunt-mother and uncle-father were deceived (Bassett and Shakespeare II. ii. 360.).

Guildenstern did not at first understand what his friend meant, but he later said that Hamlet’s madness was just crafty. Hamlet also assured to his mother that he was just intentionally acting to achieve what he wanted by telling her that the belief that he was mad was not true. The king seemed to agree with the view that his nephew was crazy but was not entirely convinced. He instructed his confidants to find the reason why he was confusing them. He told his henchmen that from his actions and words, something seemed strange. “What he speaks, though it lacks substance, was not like madness” (Bassett and Shakespeare III. i. 164.) All these scenes prove that Hamlet was just acting mad so as to throw the king and his henchmen into disarray regarding his intentions.
Claudius is also not who he seems to be. He pretends to be a caring and honorable leader who takes over the throne to save the kingdom and the people as according to him, a war was coming and Denmark needed to be protected. While before the council, Claudius speaks well of the previous king, but this is only to give to the council the impression that he was a loving brother and that he had no ill-motives. “It befits us to bear our hearts in grief as well as our whole kingdom.”( Bassett and Shakespeare 1.2.1-4). Hamlet also showed his respected for his subjects before the council when acknowledges Polonius by thanking him and saying that he was responsible for his ascension to the throne. “The hand is not more important to the heart, the land more native to the mouth, than is the throne…” (1.2.48-50). He also gave him the right to release his son off to Norway or make him stay. By his actions, he wanted to depict his character as a true servant leader who had only the kingdom’s welfare at his heart. Claudius also displayed his family values before the council when Hamlet later enters into the chambers. He seemed concerned about his plight and well-being by advising him that over grieving was not healthy. “How is it that the tears still hang on you?”(1.2.66)He tells him not to mourn anymore as he had grieved enough. This image made the council to totally be convinced that he was the best leader to take over from his brother. The people believed him as they knew that their king had died of natural causes; they did not know that Claudius was responsible for his death.
Claudius also depicts the image of a caring father before Hamlet. He asked Hamlet not to return to Wittenberg according to his plans, but to stay so that he could care for him. In reality this is not the case as he just wants to subdue him so that he may not know that he was responsible for his father’s death. Claudius also wants Hamlet to trust him and think of him as one who had no ill intentions. Though his mother is convinced that Claudius meant well for him, Claudius is not convinced though he agrees to stay. When insulted by Hamlet, he doesn’t seem offended as a king would but continue showing love towards him. He explains to the council that he understood his grief. He also announces to the council that Hamlet would assume the throne after him as he was next in line. “You are immediate to the throne and with no less love.”( Bassett and Shakespeare 1.2. 109-110).This depiction was meant to hoodwink the council and Gertrude into believing that he still had love towards him and that he was not selfish or power hungry. It would also make it difficult to find Claudius’ guilt in case it was later established that he was responsible for the king’s murder. As a result of these actions the council and all the people believe him to be the best leader and vote him in as their king. They believe that he will bring the best leadership in Denmark and protect them against all attacks as he had already prevented a war from happening. What they failed to know was that he was a cunning and callous man who was ardently bent upon assuming power no matter who or how many died in the process. He had killed his brother to take on the throne and later plotted to kill his nephew on discovering that he had known that he killed his father.
Polonius, the King’s royal assistant also adds to the theme of appearance versus reality. He always wants to depict himself as a caring and loving man. He offers advice to his son on various issues to appear as a concerned father, but he is in a real sense not sincere. Before his son Laertes left, he tells him how he should appear publicly but this only to look like a good politician. He then bids him goodbye but ironically sends a spy after him, to report everything he was doing. This shows that he has no confidence in his son to act according to his wishes and that everything he had advised him was not from the heart. Polonius also shows the same dishonesty to his daughter Ophelia when he urges her to cut her love for him and to stop seeing him. He lies to her that Hamlet only lusted for her. “Springs to catch woodcocks, I do know”(1.3.115-116). In reality, he knows that Hamlet greatly loved his daughter. He also tells her to return all gifts she had received from him. In other scenes, he listens to people’s conversations without their knowledge. Polonius is not therefore who he seems to the public.
In conclusion, appearance versus reality is the most common theme in the play; it runs from the beginning to the end. Most of the characters do not depict who they are but hoodwink the rest of the people to believe they are someone else. The most common kind of this deception is easily visible in Polonius and King Claudius. Hamlet also pretends to be mad when in the real sense he is of sound mind.
Work Cited
Bassett, Jeniffer and William Shakespeare. Hamlet. 1st ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1992. Print.