Study Question on Hamlet Due Wednesday, November 29 Hamlet is & play in which no
ID: 3487429 • Letter: S
Question
Study Question on Hamlet Due Wednesday, November 29 Hamlet is & play in which nothing can be taken at face value: appearances are frequently deceptive, and many characters engage in play-acting, spying and pretense. What deliberate attempts are made at deception? Why are they perpetrated? To conceal secrets? To uncover hidden truths? For other motives? To what extent are they successful-that is, do they deceive and do they accomplish their purpose? Keep a running log of all the deceptions you notice, indicating deceiver, purpose, audience, methods (lying, hiding, disguise, etc.) and outcomes.Explanation / Answer
Shakespeare’s masterfully scripted tragedy Hamlet is molded around themes of revenge and tragedy with deception being its essential element. Hamlet’s “antic disposition” is an act of deception. He puts on the mask of madness for drawing attention of others away from his suspicious activities as he works towards uncovering the conspiracy behind his father’s sudden death.
The Murder of Gonzago is also a deception in which Hamlet tries to catch Claudius in guilt. Further in the play, Hamlet connives to deceive Gertrude – Hamlet’s mother at their meeting in her closet. Then again, Hamlet changes his names to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who were accompanying him onboard to England as he discovers the conspiracy of his assassination. An excellent illustration of Hamlet’s self deception is the dilemma that Hamlet faces about murdering Claudius who is seen lying to everyone about the murder of Prince Hamlet’s father. Claudius also deceives Guildenstern and Rosencrantz about the voyage of Hamlet to England. He tells both that it is in the best interest of public safety to send lunatic Hamlet out of Denmark. However, in reality, Claudius was planning the assassination (of Hamlet) as he reaches England. Polonius also betrays Laertes while blessing him to go to Paris but at the same time sending Reynaldo for spying him. Polonius deceives Prince Hamlet also as he (for Claudius’ advantage) arranges for a sudden accidental meeting of Ophelia with Hamlet in order to ascertain i his insane behaviour is because of the adversity of his love. He is so natural in the art of betrayal that Ophelia trusts him to pretend reading a prayer book for averting any doubt that could arise from her hanging around in the corridor alone for he makes her believe that Hamlet will believe that Ophelia is simply meditating privately. Polonius again betrays Hamlet by hiding behind the tapestry to snoop on Hamlet and his mother’s conversation. This betrayal, however, costs him his life as Hamlet mistakenly stabs him through the curtain misidentifying him as Claudius.
Aside from these, there is a long list of betrayals in this play. Shakespeare uses characters’ duality for revealing fallacious dynamics throughout Hamlet with characters hatching conspiracies and snooping on each other, which in turn creates a high-tension mood.