Appearance and Reality in Hamlet
The motif of appearance versus reality is common in WilliamShakespeare's play, Hamlet. From the beginning of the play with theappearance of the ghost, we are constantly faced with people and thingsthat are not as they appear. Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz, andGuildenstern, as well as Hamlet himself become suspects when it comes toappearing to be one thing while secretly being another. Shakespeare'semphasis on what is real and what is imaginary is one of the techniquesthat allows Hamlet to remain a popular play. The first instance of reality versus appearance can be seen whenMarcellus, Barnado, and Horatio encounter the ghost in the first act.Barnado even asks, "Looks he not like the King' " (I.i.50). When Hamletsees the ghost, we are presented with another motif of appearance versusreality. (I.ii.191) This motif resurfaces again in the night while Hamletand Horatio are talking. Hamlet cannot decide if the ghost is a "spirit ofhealth or a goblin damned" (I.iv.44). In the third act, the ghostreappears and causes Hamlet to admit he is not mad, but to Gertrude, Hamlethas just confirmed his madness by speaking to the apparition. Claudius gives us the next motif of appearance versus real
When Hamlet asks Gertrude how she is enjoying the play, he appears to carewhat she thinks but in reality he only wants to test her. 119-132) Afterthe play begins, Hamlet treats Ophelia cruelly to seem mad once more. Interestingly,while Claudius appears to be praying and in a remorseful state to Hamlet,he is not. Polonius isnot who Hamlet thinks he is when he is hiding behind the tapestry inGertrude's room. He is constantly tornbetween feelings of love and anger toward his mother. He lies and tells her he loved her once (III. He appears to be concerned about Ophelia when he lies about Hamlet'sintention for her (II.
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