The department of foreign language and literature course work theme : the motive of pretense and play in the tragedy "hamlet"

3 Hamlet: the play within the play

Appearance vs. Reality in Hamlet Appearance vs. reality in Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, is a jaded yet common theme. This play is teeming with characters that play their roles behind a veil of duplicity. They often appear to be one way when they really are something entirely different. Things within the play appear to be true and honest but in reality are polluted with evil. Many of the characters within the play hide behind a mask of dishonesty. Four of the main characters that hid behind this mask are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Polonius, and King Claudius. From behind this mask they give the impression of a person who is sincere and true, in reality they are overwhelmed with lies and evil. One of the most obvious examples of appearance However, in reality Polonius is an evil, greedy selfish man, who serves not his kingdom but himself. One example of this is how Polonius appears to be happy, concerned and supportive of his son, Laerte’s, journey to France. He seems to be supportive of his son until he sends Reynaldo as an emissary, in order to detect what sort of mischief he stumbles upon in France. In addition, Polonius, again, displays his devious characteristics when he spies on Hamlet and Ophelia in an attempt to analyze Hamlet’s madness. He soon orders Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet, as he brainwashes her with lies about Hamlets motives, when in reality Hamlet is truly in love with Ophelia. Once again, Polonius proves his scheming behavior when he listens in on Hamlet and Gertrude’s conversation while in the bedchamber. Hamlet finally teaches him his lesson when he unexpectedly murders the “rat.” In reality Polonius is anything but a loving father watching out for his children, he uses everyone to his advantage and for his own purposes; this proves as evidence for his sneaky
William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet remains today as a significant piece of literature. The tale of the prince’s search to avenge his father resonates with the subjects found throughout the play. Today, the same themes are uncovered in
countless songs. One such song, Ronnie Winter’s False Pretense, has several of the topics seen in Hamlet, such as disloyalty and insanity. Hence, the common themes that the works both have are betrayal, hurt, and the madness of the characters showcasing their pain to the world. In Hamlet and False Pretense, the characters each struggle with a betrayal that befalls them. Hamlet is quick to note his once childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have turned against him, saying, “[There’s letters sealed; and my two schoolfellows, Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged…” understanding that he can no longer rely on them (Shakespeare 3.4 225- 226). Likewise, in False Pretense, the song’s narrator deals with a betrayal from someone close to them. The narrator’s disbelief is shown through their statement of “The world’s got a funny…show more content…
In the play, Hamlet tells Horatio and Marcellous that “(As I perchance hereafter shall
think to meet to put an antic disposition on…)” saying that he will act unlike himself (Shakespeare 1.5 191-192). In the song, the narrator tells “(But) you were wrong and I’m laughing right in your face” not caring how their actions come off as. Besides this, Hamlet also demonstrates madness when he says “I am but mad north-north
west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw…” as he is saying he can turn this madness on and off (Shakespeare 2.2 402-403). The False Pretense narrator tells “So play the game until you run out/ And play the game into my hand.” The narrator is saying something that does not quite make sense. Altogether, the underlying madness in the two incorporates why they act out on their
The tragedy of Hamlet has remained a mystery to many people. Over the years, many people have questioned if the Hamlet fits the description of a tragedy outlined by Aristotle in the poetics. In a classic tragedy, there is a noble and heroic protagonist whose destruction is caused by a flaw in his character. Aristotle further defines a classic tragedy as one that ends in a tragic death of the protagonist. Although this is often the case, the hero experiences an awareness, which makes him and the audience more perceptive and aware. By looking at the Hamlet, one does not fail to notice that it fits the description outlined by Aristotle of a classic tragedy.

Aristotle further describes a tragic hero to be someone who has royalty blood in him. This becomes important so that the hero can suffer the predicament of falling from glory. To begin with, Hamlet is born in a royal family. On top of this, he had been crowned as the prince of Denmark something that made him royal. After he kills Polonius, he is exiled in to England, which can be defined as a fall from grace to grass. This is a clear description of a tragic hero.

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must also set out on a journey. This can be a real journey or one that is just symbolic. This is evident in the play. In the first instant, Hamlet travels to England in exile. Even though the journey is not by his own volition, it is a journey nevertheless. After the ghost reveals to him the events surrounding his fathers death, Hamlet sets out on a symbolic journey to avenge this death. This gives him an opportunity for self-rediscovery. This literal and symbolic journey taken by Hamlet makes the play fit the description of a tragedy as outlined by Aristotle.

After Hamlet has encountered the ghost, he sets out on a mission meant to kill the king. To the reader, this mission is so clear that we expect him to kill the king upon their first encounter. Even after he is presented with a good opportunity to do so, Hamlet does not exact out his revenge. Though the reason for this is not given, we are

left to conclude that this indecision is caused by Hamlet’s character. He seems to be weak willed and appears undetermined.

This is not just a character he has suddenly attained but it is something that appears to be inborn. Therefore, we can conclusively conclude that Hamlet is a tragedy of fault. The protagonist seems to carry in him a burden that is too big for him. Despite his attempt at bravery, he is weak willed and unable to make some important decisions. Again, this is a flaw in his character.

When Hamlet learns in a dream that he is supposed to revenge the death of his father, he promises to pursue this revenge without any delay. In fact, Hamlet lets go of everything else in his life to devote his time and energies in exerting this revenge. To Hamlet, even his life’s dreams and destiny cannot be compared to this new pursuit. Immediately after this discovery, Hamlet is at a loss on why he has to be the one chosen to exert this revenge. This is the first indication we get that Hamlet has a weakness in his character. Instead of seeking for ways to kill the person who cut short the life of his father, Hamlet begins to wonder why a sane person can carry out such an act.

To a scrutinizing eye, this is something meant to procrastinate his mission of revenge. This is something that even Hamlet cannot seem to comprehend. Upon realizing that he is dreading carrying out his mission, he comforts himself by saying that he is no coward. However, we his audience know better than to believe his words. Hamlet postpones this mission further by seeking to verify the words of the ghost. However, the trap that he sets to confirm this soon ‘snaps’ but he still cannot make a meaningful decision.

Hamlet is a paradox; he is a perplexing character that throughout the play has more to show. Hamlet is a person of contradictions he is inquisitive and profound yet indecisive. The experiences Hamlet goes through led to dramatic changes in his character. In the beginning we are introduced to a young man who is mourning for the death of his father and struggling with the sudden marriage of his mother to his uncle. Hamlet faces the dilemma of wanting to avenge his father’s death and suppressing his intense emotions in order to calculate a plan. Hamlet’s wit and play of words deceits everyone. He seems to be philosophical and existential being with a certain interest to the meaning of life. Many may see him as the tragic hero fighting against a superior force. This image of a tragic hero seems to be just a façade. Although there can be many reason why he may be seem as a tragic hero he is corrupted by those around him making him evil. Hamlet soul becomes corrupt since the beginning with the sudden marriage of his

mother to his uncle, the man who killed his father. His depression is much deeper then what everyone believed. Hamlet tries to explain it to his mother and Claudius that his grief is deeper and is much more then the appearance of someone who mourns. His mother seems cold rather then understanding she tells him to get rid of the black clothes and move on, “Thou kno’st’tis common. All that lives must die passing through nature to eternity.” (1.2.74-75) Claudius too is insensitive and says he over doing it and advises him to stop his “un manly grief.” (1.2.98) This lead to the physical and mental corruption Hamlet faces.. The confusing relationship she had with Hamlet and death of her father led to Ophelia’s madness and soon after suicide. He was the cause of the murder this is the deterioration of his character and see it when he confesses his love for Ophelia at her funeral that its too late.
Hamlet starts of what may be considered a tragic hero but his fear and overthinking led to being influenced by the corruption around him he was neither strong nor had characteristics that position him above the average person. In every situation he got into he reacted like a normal person rather then a hero. All his actions were flawed because of his problem with those around him allowing the evilness of others to grow inside of him changing him completely. His death was inevitable it was accumulation of his mistakes.
Rough Draft: Hamlet Personality Essay
Hamlet goes through numerous obstacles from the start of his fathers death until he contemplates life. He is never quite sure of his decisions and his thoughs, though his actions cause us to think more in depth about his intention. Hamlet gives us a sense of present insanity. He is unclear whether these actions and words are on purpose, but they cause us to create a way in which his mind thinks. Hamlet presents us his personality through his sarcasm, his sanity, his suicidal tendencies, and procrastination and indecision.
Hamlet has had a rough time since his father passed; he uses sarcasm to release his anger, share his opinion, and show his newly brewed disgust for his family. Sarcasm is used to develop this play by using examples of how Hamlet views his families’ easy transitions through the death of his father. For example, Hamlet uses a sarcastic remark to show his disgust with his mother for getting over his father so quickly, and going with his uncle Claudius. The statement reads “…A little month, or ere those shoes were old with which she followed my poor father’s body.” (Page 28 Line 147-8) By this, he is saying that she barely broke in her shoes from the funeral before she married Claudius. Since the the wedding followed the funeral by just a little over a month, he is irritated that she could betray his father so quickly. Another example is Hamlet making his anger lucid through his sarcasm. He exclaims to Horatio “...Horatio? Or I
do forget myself?” (Page 28 Line 162) By this, he is saying ‘Horatio, is that you?’ because it had been such a long time since they have accompanied each other. Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius right off and be finished because he wants to wait for the prefect moment. This shows that Hamlet was to act on evidence with reason. He puts a reason behind his revenge, and sticks to it. In conclusion, Hamlet procrastinates with reason, he wants all his actions to be timed with perfection. This tells us that Hamlets personality although its dispersed, is still well thought out and prioritized. In conclusion, Hamlets actions, thoughts, and words help us describe his complex personality. He develops his personality to use through his sarcasm through his words, his sanity through his thoughts, his suicidal tendencies through his actions, and his indecision through all three. Hamlet has been to hell and back; through his struggle, we are able to determine his personality and his views through his reactions to these events.