Deception in Hamlet

Thesis Statement

People are not always how they appear to be. As an audience, people may perceive characters in a variety of ways. In William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, there are many characters in multiple situations which portray their intentions conversely. The characters Hamlet, Claudius, and the Ghost all must deceive others using different tactics and strategies in order to hide their true motives.

Hamlet utilizes various tactics to deceive the other characters in the play. For instance, it appears as though Hamlet has a love interest, Ophelia, in which he decides to approach her father with hesitancy and secrecy. After a long conversation with Polonius, Hamlet says, "For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion- Have you a daughter?"(91). By acting crazy while conversing with Ophelia's father, Hamlet is able to speak aimlessly through words from his book, hiding his true thoughts and feelings. This saves Hamlet the trouble of creating lies for every other person and effectively conceals any information he may slip out about his father's murder while staying consistent in his acts. Another example is where Hamlet switches from a defensive stance to an offensive one. While being questioned by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet develops a plan to justify Claudius' guilt of murder. When finally alone, Hamlet states, "About my brains! - Hum, I have heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play have, by the very cunning of the scene, been struck so to the soul that presently they have proclaimed their malefactions. For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ" (117). In his soliloquy, he states that he has heard that guilty individuals have confessed their sins by just the intensity of a scene from a play and if not outwardly spoken, you can see the expression on their face. This is another tactic Hamlet uses in order to achieve is ultimate goal of revenge for his father.

While Hamlet is concocting his own plans, Claudius is playing everyone as fools to his secret murder. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet appears deeply disturbed and is unkind towards his uncle and mother. Claudius attempts to comfort him by saying, "'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, to give these mourning duties to your father" (27). By consoling Hamlet about his loss, Claudius creates an image for himself as a warm, generous man who ...