The Theme of Hamlet - 897 Words

John Doe English 2 H April 1, 2015 Hamlet Theme Essay The themes of Appearance vs. Reality are very prominent in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Throught the story many characters act in a deceitful manner in an attempt to seem like an innocent pawn in the game of life, when in reality they are the most corrupt characters in the play. Polonius an excellent example of appearance vs. reality. Throught the story Polonius seems to be a loyal servant to the kingdom, serving the previous and current king as a personal adviser. To the average citizen in the kingdom Polonius seems to be just as loyal of an adviser to King Claudius, but Hamlet exposes Polonius to be a deceitful man, who by supporting the new king has betrayed his†¦show more content†¦Ophelia comments on Hamlets madness during act 2 by saying â€Å"My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced; No hat upon his head; his stockings fould, Ungarterd, and down-gyved to his ancle; Pale as his shirt; his knees kno cking each other; And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors,—he comes before me.† (Hamlet Act 2, scene 1, 77–84) By saying this about Hamlet Ophelia lets the audience understand how insane Hamlets appears to be to the kingdom and how his excuse of â€Å"love sickness† is the perfect alibi to trick his fellow members of the kingdom and manipulate them into â€Å"getting what he wants† through his â€Å"illness† Shakespeare has the theme of Appearance vs. Reality affect almost every character in Hamlet. The concept can be used to reflect the actions and thoughts of every single character in the story no matter how influential. Whether it be Polonius acting as if he has been loyal to Claudius his whole life, Gertrude marrying her husbands brother Claudius almost immediately after his death or even Hamlet himself acting lovesick as an alibi for his â€Å"madness† to fool his fellow royalty; The theme of looking one way on the outside but thinking another on the inside it not an uncommon occurrence in the play Hamlet by WilliamShow MoreRelatedRevenge Themes in Hamlet1077 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play ‘Hamlet written by William Shakespeare in Elizabethan times, the theme of revenge is a constant throughout the plot. Not only does it underlie almost every scene, but it also has a major effect on the story as a whole. Two of the main revenge plots within the play are Hamlets aim to avenge his father by killing his uncle, the king Claudius, and Laertes aim to avenge the murder of his father by killing Hamlet. These two revenge plots play a major role in presenting to the audience theRead MoreTheme Of Revenge In Hamlet792 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the play has a major theme of revenge. Many of the characters in the play are seeking revenge, such as Hamlet, Claudius, and Laertes. Some of the characters are seeking revenge due to their father’s deaths, and others are encouraging someone to seek revenge. The theme revenge can lead to death is seen when Hamlet’s revenge led to Polonius’ death, Claudius’ revenge led to Gertrude’s death, and Laertes’ revenge led to Hamlet’s, Claudius’, and his own death. Hamlet, the main characterRead MoreHamlet Theme Analysis873 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet is a play based on the theme of revenge. 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Read MoreHamlet Theme Of Death1278 Words   |  6 PagesBeyond the Wall of Death (A analysis of the theme of death in Hamlet, Acts 3-5) â€Å"The undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will,† (Shakespeare 144 Act 3 scene 1 lines 86-87). The question that still plagues humanity today. What is after death, where do we go? No one of this earth can answer this question. In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the theme of death is one of the main themes of this famous play. The theme of death continues throughout the entireRead MoreHamlet Theme Analysis701 Words   |  3 PagesHamlet is a very complex play where many themes are mixed together at the same time and those themes are essential to the development of the play. The issue of death, both physical and emotional is very common throughout the play. The famous ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy, where Hamlet not only questions life and death, but many of life’s other uncertainties as well. 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