Hamlet - Appearances vs. Reality
In William Shakespeare’s 1606 play, Hamlet, the theme of reality versus appearance recurs throughout the play. The play, Hamlet makes references to how things appear versus the truth. Shakespeare’s Hamlet shows how things may not always be as they appear by the death of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s encounter with the ghost, the difference between feigning madness and real madness, and through the portrayal of a play within a play.
The North American Edition of the Encarta® World English Dictionary states that the word appearance means “the way somebody or something looks or seems to other people or an outward aspect of somebody or something that creates a particular impression.” The American Heritage® dictionary states that the word reality means “the quality or state of being actual or true, the totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence, and that which exists objectively and in fact.” The discrepancy of appearances and reality recur in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
At the beginning of the play, the dilemma of what is real is established. It appeared as though King Hamlet has died from being bitten by a snake. In reality we learn that Claudius had murdered King Hamlet to attain the position of the throne. We learn the truth that King Claudius killed King Hamlet, and that the appearance that King Hamlet was bitten by a snake was false. We discovered the truth when the ghost of King Hamlet came to tell Hamlet, his son, to avenge his death and said,
“Now, Hamlet, hear: 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown.”
(Act 1, Scene 5. Page 59)
The above quote informs the reader that even though we may be told that a serpent stung King Hamlet, which happens to be false, King Hamlet was in fact murdered. It teaches the reader not to jump to conclusions because
The North American Edition of the Encarta® World English Dictionary states that the word appearance means “the way somebody or something looks or seems to other people or an outward aspect of somebody or something that creates a particular impression.” The American Heritage® dictionary states that the word reality means “the quality or state of being actual or true, the totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence, and that which exists objectively and in fact.” The discrepancy of appearances and reality recur in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
At the beginning of the play, the dilemma of what is real is established. It appeared as though King Hamlet has died from being bitten by a snake. In reality we learn that Claudius had murdered King Hamlet to attain the position of the throne. We learn the truth that King Claudius killed King Hamlet, and that the appearance that King Hamlet was bitten by a snake was false. We discovered the truth when the ghost of King Hamlet came to tell Hamlet, his son, to avenge his death and said,
“Now, Hamlet, hear: 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown.”
(Act 1, Scene 5. Page 59)
The above quote informs the reader that even though we may be told that a serpent stung King Hamlet, which happens to be false, King Hamlet was in fact murdered. It teaches the reader not to jump to conclusions because