3. Reality and appearances‚ or if you prefer‚ being and acting‚ are important themes for both Machiavelli and Shakespeare. Why? How do their perspectives on this subject agree or differ? APPEARANCE vs. REALITY IN "THE PRINCE" AND "HAMLET" One of the most fundamental questions in philosophy is the appearance vs. reality. We find ourselves asking the question of what is genuinely "real‚" and what is viewed merely as just an "appearance‚" and not real? It becomes difficult when we assume there is
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Hamlet supports a large array of themes‚ but I feel that the most prominent theme‚ by far‚ must be that of Appearance vs Reality. Shakespeare’s work‚ very much open to interpretation of the individual reader‚ makes the question of the central theme one that proves difficult to choose but simple to support no matter the decision. The play‚ filled with problems and questions answered with yeses or noes or anywhere in-between‚ creates a large area for discussion and person identification. Whether the
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Throughout history there has been a general understanding that appearances can be deceiving. A person may go through life without anyone understanding the true reality of their character. William Shakespeare‚ one of the greatest writers of all time‚ understood the relationship between appearance and reality and often gave characters two sides to their personality. One of the most fundamental questions in philosophy is the one of appearance vs. reality. We find ourselves asking the question of what is genuinely
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prominent literary works. He uses a wide variety of imagery which can be incorporated into many themes‚ specifically Appearance versus Reality. Throughout this play there are many references to this theme through the characters’ actions and dialogue. Shakespeare uses these sorts of images to develop a vivid picture for the reader. We are introduced to the theme of Appearance versus Reality early in the play by the introduction of the ghost. The ghost appears to Hamlet after it has met with Horatio‚ Bernardo
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honest but in reality they are deceitful. In act 3 scene 1‚ there is one case in particular that touches on this subject. Polonius and Claudius’s dialogue (lines 43-56) allude to the motif of appearance versus reality by the use of a symbol to deepen the question of what is genuinely real and what is an allusion when it comes to labelling women as deceitful. The symbol of a harlot’s cheek serves to prove the theme of now women are living embodiments of appearance trying to evade reality. Claudius is
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impression they get. The appearance people see will usually satisfy them without further investigating into the reality of a situation. The difference between appearance and reality can be quite different. This also applies to literature. There are many instances where an author will describes a character as kind‚ but is actually deceptive and mean. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn‚ there are characters and situations that show how appearances can differ from reality. The three main instances
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Othello - Appearance vs. Reality Uploaded by firealive (20) on Oct 30‚ 2004 William Shakespeare focuses a lot of his play‚ Othello‚ on the theme of appearance versus reality. Othello‚ along with other characters in the play‚ depend on only their eyes and with that they jump to major conclusions. There are many instances in the book where there is hidden confusion‚ meaning the character believes on only what his or her eyes tell him‚ hence‚ Looks can be very deceiving. One of the first
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Hamlet’s mind is in; is he continuing to feign insanity to avenge his fallen father and defend his own honour or has he immersed himself entirely to the pursuit of vengeance that he reaches the point of no return. The reoccurring theme of appearance versus reality may (initially) appear to prove the former‚ but it becomes apparent as the play progresses that it induces unhealthy responses to his spirit and
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Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a dramatic representation of the idea that appearances do not always reflect reality. Appearance is the way a person acts on the outside‚ the reality of that would be who that person really is on the inside. No matter which way anyone looks at this‚ if you try to act like something you’re not‚ the truth will show up in the end. This is exactly what happens in Macbeth. Banquo‚ Macbeth and Lady Macbeth‚ each show the appearance of a person people see them as‚ but as the story goes on
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about our personalities. Like those “Expectations vs. Reality” moments we always encounter‚ the appearance of people are not the same as the reality. Never has this been more evident than in Shakespeare’s playwright Hamlet portrayed through several characters. Hamlet is a play solely revolving around revenge. With the play being based on revenge it needs to have characters who are not what they seem to be. This brings in the appearance vs. reality factor in Hamlet. Every character has something to hide
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