Theme Of Deception In Hamlet

Hamlet: The Tragedy Laced with Deception

Throughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet, deception is the most predominant theme recognized during the play. Characters within the play are notable for their use of deception of one another in order to achieve their own personal goals. The constant theme of appearance versus reality and deception is seen as a consequence of lying, manipulation and shown largely through the act of keeping secrets. In Shakespeare’s most distinguished work, he reveals the momentousness of deception, manipulation and dishonesty all for the sake of supremacy and revenge.

The theme of deception can be perceived through acts of serious and vengeful lying. In Hamlet, the form of deception, lying, can be found in many scenes all through

By far one of the biggest acts of manipulation in the play, is where Hamlet stages a revised version of the existing play entitled The Murder of Gonzago, this is where Hamlet included an additional 16 lines to try and catch the King’s face in his guilt. Hamlet expresses this manipulation in act 3, scene 2 where he says, “Give him a heedful note, for I mine eyes will rivet to his face, and after we will both our judgements join, in census of his seeming (3.2.82-85).” Here Hamlet uses his seniority to manipulate the performers into tricking King Claudius. This act of manipulation is strong in the sense that it was Hamlet’s first real attempt at seeking revenge on his father’s killer. Another instance in which Hamlet uses his title to manipulate others is in Act 5 where he states, “...I had my father’s signet in my purse, which was the model of that Danish seal, Folded the writ up in the form if th’other, subscrib’d it, gave’t th’impression, plac’d it safely, the changeling never known. Now the next day was our sea-fight, and what to this was sequent thou knowest already (5.2.49-56).” Here Hamlet had just discovered that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had been responsible for carrying his death warrant. Upon the ship bound for England, Hamlet used King Hamlet’s old signet ring to rewrite the warrant, with the names of Rosencrantz and

To name some other acts of deceit in the play; Horatio is a deceptive character because he willingly participated in Hamlet’s scheme to “catch the conscious of the king”. Ophelia by foreboding to tell Hamlet of her father’s Machiavellian ways. Fortinbras on the account that he lies to his uncle about condemning Denmark and lastly Rosencrantz and Guildenstern lied about their tedious voyage to England and it’s true purpose. It is apparent that each and every character in Hamlet, was deceitful and demonstrated acts of deception throughout the play. From this discovery it is clear that most of those who did deceive, sealed their fate and in some ways signed their own metaphorical death warrant. In Shakespeare’s epic tragedy laced with deception, characters lie, manipulate and keep secrets for the simple objective of revenge and personal