Deception in Hamlet
ENG 3UO
Deception in Hamlet In today's society, it is almost impossible to go a day without experiencing some form of deception, whether it being hearing about it, seeing it, or experiencing it first hand. In William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', deception is a major theme throughout the story. In the play, the author portrays deception as a necessary tool to allow Hamlet and Claudius to accomplish their goals. Claudius and Hamlet use deception to gather evidence and for personal gain. Claudius is deceiving everybody in his life. He deceives all the people around him regarding his brother's death: " Oh 'tis true too true! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! The harlots's cheek, beautified with plastering art. Is not more ugly to the thing that helps its than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden!" (3.1 50-55) Claudius is feeling guilty that he killed King Hamlet which was his brother. He used deception for his own personal gain because now Claudius is king as a result of King Hamlet being killed. Secondly, Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to decide Hamlet by going and spending time with him, but they were actually sent by Claudius to spy on Hamlet. " To visit you my lord, my lord, no other occasion." (2.2) Again Claudius is using deception for his own personal gain and he is also trying to gather evidence on Hamlet by sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to watch Hamlet very closely. Also Claudius deceived Rosecrantz and Guildenstern by telling them Hamlet is being shipped to England beacasue he has gone mad and he has to calm down, but really he is sending him to be killed: " Our soverign process, whic imports at full, by letters congruing to that effect, the present death of Hamlet, Do it, England." (4.3 64-66) Claudius is lying to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern becasause he wants Hamlet to be killed and that is one of his goals. Claudius uses deception to allow Hamlet to be killed which is a personal gain
Deception in Hamlet In today's society, it is almost impossible to go a day without experiencing some form of deception, whether it being hearing about it, seeing it, or experiencing it first hand. In William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', deception is a major theme throughout the story. In the play, the author portrays deception as a necessary tool to allow Hamlet and Claudius to accomplish their goals. Claudius and Hamlet use deception to gather evidence and for personal gain. Claudius is deceiving everybody in his life. He deceives all the people around him regarding his brother's death: " Oh 'tis true too true! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! The harlots's cheek, beautified with plastering art. Is not more ugly to the thing that helps its than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden!" (3.1 50-55) Claudius is feeling guilty that he killed King Hamlet which was his brother. He used deception for his own personal gain because now Claudius is king as a result of King Hamlet being killed. Secondly, Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to decide Hamlet by going and spending time with him, but they were actually sent by Claudius to spy on Hamlet. " To visit you my lord, my lord, no other occasion." (2.2) Again Claudius is using deception for his own personal gain and he is also trying to gather evidence on Hamlet by sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to watch Hamlet very closely. Also Claudius deceived Rosecrantz and Guildenstern by telling them Hamlet is being shipped to England beacasue he has gone mad and he has to calm down, but really he is sending him to be killed: " Our soverign process, whic imports at full, by letters congruing to that effect, the present death of Hamlet, Do it, England." (4.3 64-66) Claudius is lying to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern becasause he wants Hamlet to be killed and that is one of his goals. Claudius uses deception to allow Hamlet to be killed which is a personal gain