Examples Of Subterfuge In Hamlet

After studying and reviewing the book Hamlet, there are many different types of themes that stand out. Subterfuge was one of those themes and it is an important theme with several examples from the book supporting it. Many of these examples are important parts in the book and they all seemed to have something to do with secret plans. Upon reviewing many themes of Hamlet, Subterfuge was the theme that stood out the most to be the major theme of Hamlet.

One example of the theme subterfuge is Laertes and Claudius plans to kill Hamlet. When they are sitting with each other discussing ways to kill hamlet, they both come up with secret plans to execute Hamlet. When Laertes says to Claudius, Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, collected from
This is an example of subterfuge because Polonius has a secret plan to find out how Laertes is behaving by telling Reynaldo to spy on him and to spread stories about Laertes. When Polonius says to Reynaldo, and thus do we of wisdom and of reach, with windlasses and assays of bias, by indirections find directions out he means that from telling lies, you will find the truth. After spreading lies, Reynaldo is to see if Laertes confirms these stories or not. Reynaldo obeys Polonius demands when he is told by Polonius to Observe his inclination in yourself.Claudius and Polonius plan to accidentally overhear a conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia is another example. Polonius comes up with an idea of where to spy on Hamlet and Ophelia when he says to Claudius, Be you and I behind an arras then. After hearing Hamlet and Ophelias conversation, Polonius still believes that rejected love is the reason for Hamlets madness. Polonius then comes up with yet another plan. This plan consists of Polonius secretly hiding behind curtains in the Queens room to eavesdrop in on a conversation between Hamlet and his mother. After the play, let his queen mother all alone entreat him to show his grief.The King and Queen also had there secret plan to get Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to come visit Hamlet and to try there best to find out what is causing Hamlets madness. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive to the castle, Queen Gertrude politely says to them, And sure I am two men there are not living to whom he more adheres. If it will please you to show us so much gentry and good will, as to expend you time with us a while for the supply and profit of our hope, your visitation shall receive such thanks. Her plan is to see if Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can find out whats wrong with Hamlet since they are two very good friends of