Examples Of Appearance Vs Reality In Hamlet

Appearance vs. Reality
Speaker: King

“Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,
Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve
For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence”
(4.3.42-44)
• King says he is sending Hamlet to England for his safety, when really it is to have him killed
• The King makes it seem as though he is doing a good deed, when really it is wrong
• The King says he cares for Hamlet’s safety as much as he grieves Polonius’ death o He is lying o He does not grieve the death of Polonius and if he did, he’d care about Hamlet, which he doesn’t
Speaker: Hamlet
“I see a cherub that sees them.”
(4.3.38)
• The cherub symbolizes an angel
• The cherub sees the King's real purpose in sending Hamlet to England and informs Hamlet
o
Madness
Ophelia
“By Gis, and by Saint Charity,
Alack, and fie for shame!
Young men will do’t if they come to’t,
By cock, they are to blame.
Quoth she, before you tumbled me,
You promised me to wed
(4.5.57-62)
• Her songs are taken as madness
• The song is actually the truth o Revealing her relationship with Hamlet o It hurts her
 Hamlet ended their relationship
 She feels used

Tragic Flaw

Speaker: King

“For goodness, growing a pleurisy,
Dies in his own too-much: that we would do
We should do when we would; for this “would” changes
And hath abatements and delays as