Apperance vs Reality in Shakespeare's Hamlet

Appearance versus reality is the difference between what seems to be, and what truly is. Society experiences this, as sometimes someone appears to be your friend, when they are actually working against you. Many people hide their true identities, keeping up an appearance different from their own. Many pieces of literature utilize this theme, and a notable example would be Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Many of the characters appear to be acting in Hamlet’s best interests, but are really plotting against him, and Hamlet himself puts on an appearance of madness, unlike his own sanity. In Hamlet, the characters of Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Hamlet are not what they appear.
Claudius is the brother of Hamlet’s late father, and is now married to Hamlet’s mother. Claudius appears to be a sympathetic husband who only has Gertrude and Hamlet’s best interests at heart. He is actually the main conspirator against Hamlet. He arranges for Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and others, to spy on Hamlet. When he feels Hamlet is becoming too big of a problem, the ‘loving father and husband’ plans to have his stepson murdered upon arrival in England. Hamlet finds evidence of this, and returns to Elsinore. Claudius receives a letter from Hamlet, stating he will be returning, which causes Claudius to manipulate Laertes by pretending he cares for him. He also claims to mourn the death of Laerte’s father, Polonius, stating, “I loved your father”, in order to convince Laertes to agree to kill Hamlet (IV.vii,34). Claudius arranges for what appears to be a friendly duel between Hamlet and Laertes, but plots to use this match to end Hamlet. He poisons Laertes’s blade, and as a backup, poisons the cup of wine Hamlet is to drink from. Claudiu...

... middle of paper ...

...he still makes sense while ranting. Polonius notices this, stating “Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t” (II.ii.204). By the end of the play, it is not clear which of Hamlet’s personalities is the reality and which is the appearance.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the characters are very deceptive, and show a clear distinction between their appearance and reality. Claudius pretends to be a loving father, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern pretend to be loyal friends, and Hamlet pretends to be mad. How they appear varies greatly from reality. They lie to protect themselves, and they lie in order to trick others. This is indicative of real life, where people often hide who they truly are. Through the theme of appearance versus reality, Hamlet proves the truth is rarely as it appears.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. USA: Spark Publishing, 2003. Print.