"This above all , to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man," was said by Polonius(I,iii 82-84). This statement about self truth is a common theme in Shakespeare's Hamlet. One of the important themes in this play how can one separate illusion from reality. Via different images that Shakespeare gives us, we can infer how he thinks we should separate it. If these people aren't true to themselves, then chances are that they aren't going to be true to other people.
             There is one distinct image proving that illusion verse reality is indeed a major theme in the play. In the play the reference to a serpent is made. "Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark ," said the ghost(1.5.36). As many people who are familiar with religion know, it was a serpent that tricked Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. It was indeed the devil, in disguise, that tricked them. Adam and Eve were unable to detect illusion from reality. In Hamlet, it is his job to see who is indeed a serpent and who is being real. Unfortunately for Hamlet, almost everyone is just an illusion. Everyone is pretending to be something they aren't.
             Blood is one of the most real things that there is. Throughout Hamlet there are many references to blood. Perhaps what Shakespeare is trying to do, is to remind that amidst all this deceit and all these lies, there is some authenticity. "The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, And waits upon the judgment: and what judgment," was said by Hamlet(3.4.69-71). What he is saying is that you can act falsely if you want, but your blood, who you really are, will be your judgment. It isn't possible for someone to change who they are. They may be able to disguise who they are, but never change themselves. Blood symbolizes this, because like a ...