On How Tragedy Leads to Deception in The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark

On How Tragedy Leads to Deception in: "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark"

In the play "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark," William Shakespeare has used the theme of deception, and how its use by one or more characters leads to their downfall. Polonius explicitly stated this theme when he said to Laertes in I, ii, "By indirections find directions out." Each major character in Hamlet, in his or her own way, provided an example of this theme. By using deceit the characters in "Hamlet" employed methods to fulfill their own agenda, an action that ultimately resulted in tragedy.

Shakespeare's use of deception is seen most clearly in Hamlet's actions. He began to "act mad" early in the play in order to manipulate his friends. "…Hereafter [I] shall… put an antic disposition on" (I.v.171-2). Hamlet swore to use this antic disposition to uncover his father's murderer. He used this performance as a tool of artifice in order to cover up his true feelings. Hamlet went too far however, and his underhanded plan began to work against him.

By not coming clean with those he trusts most, Hamlet served to alienate them from himself, and from his cause (of avenging his father's death). In III i, Hamlet said to Ophelia, "Go

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This alone was not devious, but the methods he employed definitely were. For example, he passed this advice on to his son: "[do] not then be false to any man. Therefore prepare you, / I your commission will forthwith dispatch, / And he to England shall along with you: / The terms of our estate may not endure / Hazard so near's as doth hourly grow / Out of his brows" (III. 317-8), Hamlet had not been fully open with his friends.

Claudius is another character in "Hamlet" who used treachery to reach his objective. If't be so, / Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged, / His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy. They claimed to be Hamlet's friends, when really they were profiting at his expense by collaborating with the King and Queen. As shown when Rozencrantz said to Hamlet, "You… bar the door upon your own liberty, if you deny [telling] your griefs to your friend[s]" (III. He had overdone his acting mad, and the madness he had created began to control him as seen in V, ii when Hamlet speaks of himself in the third person to Laertes:

…I here proclaim [my] madness… If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away, / And when he's not himself, does wrong Laertes, / Then hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it: / Who does it then? His madness. "I will do it… I'll anoint my sword… that if I gall him slightly, / it may be death.

Approximate Word count = 1117
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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