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Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, tells us the story of the Prince of Denmark, whose father recently died and whose mother married Hamlets uncle, the new King. Throughout the development of the play, Hamlet discovers that his father was in fact murdered by the new King Claudius. This all leads to the theme of appearance versus reality, which remains constant during the play. Many characters in Hamlet apply to this theme, but the characters Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Claudius best encompass the infested evil that people hide behind their masks of good intentions.
While wearing these masks, all seem sincere and genuine, but after their disguises are removed, the truth emerges as evil and diseased. First, Polonuis, the assistant to King Claudius, is preoccupied with appearing to be a man who is very prim and proper so he can feel that he fits in with high society. He also wants to look like a loving father to his son Laertes and his daughter Ophelia. Polonius tells Laertes, 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 (act, 81 - 84).
Polonius then blesses Laertes and sends him on his way. If Polonuis is in fact the loving, caring father he portrays himself to be, why does he send a spy to follow his son and keep and eye on him? This shows Polonius deep distrust for even those closest to him. His fatherly advise to Laertes is rehearsed and only spoken to give the appearance of a loving father. He further adds to the appearance versus reality theme when he orders Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet.
He says that Hamlet cannot really love her because she belongs to a lower class. He adds insult to injury when he tells Ophelia that Hamlet only acts interested because of his intense physical attraction. Hamlet honestly loves Ophelia and he displays this love publicly when he proclaims at her funeral, I loved Ophelia. / Forty thousand brothers/ Could not/ Make up my sum (act, 270 - 273). Throughout the play, Polonius hides behind a mask that shows him as a loving, honest parent. In reality, though, he lies and manipulates people in an attempt to elevate himself onto a pedestal in others eyes. Next, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlets childhood friends come to Denmark to visit.
These two come to Hamlet pretending to be his friends, when in fact, the king Claudius has called on them to spy on Hamlet. He orders them to get close to Hamlet in order to discover if he is insane or only failing madness. This is quite ironic because the king expects them to find the truth while they are hiding within a lie. Hamlet, in fact, knows their intentions are to probe his soul to find the real reason for his insane actions. For this reason, the only answers that Hamlet provides them with, besides insults, are plays on words. Make you a wholesome answer; my wits diseased.
But, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command; or rather, as you say, my mother. Therefore no more, but to the matter! (Act III, 330 - 333) How can Rosencrantz and Guildenstern decide on the mental health of Hamlet when they cannot even figure out what he is talking about. These two men come to Hamlet waving a flag of friendship even though they both harbor within them plans to betray their old friend to the king. Claudius, King of Denmark and stepfather to Hamlet, carries the largest mask of deception throughout the play.
In Act I, Scene II, Claudius, in the presence of his council, shows the audience how skillful he actually is at speaking falsely to his subjects. Claudius speaks highly of the recently deceased King Hamlet by portraying a general love for him by all his subjects through his kind words. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brothers death/ The memory be green, and that it us befitted/ To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom/ To be contracted in one brow of woe (act Scene II, 1 - 4). These kind words are actually empty and shallow and spoken only to give the appearance of a loving brother, because, as the ghost told Hamlet, the old king died by his brothers hand. Claudius then sends Voltimand and Cornelius off to give the king of Norway a message, telling the two, We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell (act Scene II, 42). This exchange shows him as a trusting king, winning even more favor from his council.
He continues to show the council his good side when he gives Polonius much credit for helping him to become king. The head is not more native to the heart, / The hand more instrumental to the mouth, / Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. / What wouldst thou have, Laertes (Act I Scene II, 48 - 51)? This makes it more difficult for Hamlet to expose Claudius true side because the people begin to care more and more for him. Claudius shows his mask to not only his council and subjects, but to Hamlet as well. When Hamlet and Claudius speak, the king seems concerned for his well-being. How is it that the clouds still hang on you (Act I Scene II, 70)?
He tells Hamlet that too much grieving is not healthy, and even when Hamlet snaps back at him, Claudius keeps his cool. He tells Hamlet, Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, / to give these mourning duties to your father (Act I Scene II, 92 - 94). This shows his council that he is an understanding father and he knows that his step-son truly misses his father. He continues to show the council, as well as Hamlets mother, that he is caring when he announces that Hamlet is next in line to be crowned king.
This is actually an insult to Hamlet because his chance at the throne was already passed over once when Claudius murdered his father and married his mother. He again displays his soft side when he convinces Hamlet to stay in Denmark because of Gertrude's request. Claudius appears very concerned with Hamlets health. Gertrude and his council see in him this virtue, making Claudius appear to be a wise choice for king.
There are many characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet that help to show us the theme of appearance versus reality. Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Claudius all appear to be good and honest people. As Hamlet soon discovers, though, all harbor lies and hidden intentions within them. Because these characters appear in the play to be good citizens, it makes it increasingly difficult for Hamlet to unearth the rotten truth about the natures of the characters. When Marcellus says, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, he knows what he is talking about. 313
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Research essay sample on Appearance Versus Reality Act I Scene Ii
