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Reflectivity vs. Reality in Hamlet

Shakespeare's Hamlet characters enormously complex personalities.It is a play that

tells the story of a young prince who's father passed away. Hamlets uncle Claudius marries his

mother the queen in order to be king. As the play is told Hamlet realizes his father was

murdered. The theme of the play is reflectivity versus reality. Many of the characters within

the play camouflage themselves. They pretend sincere which makes Hamlet’s situation

diffucult to discover the case of murder.

Claudius the king of Denmark conduct in council gives him the appearance of an

honest and honorable man. Claudius speaks well of the spent king by showing a general love

for him by all means. Claudius show respect for the old sovereign by speaking kind words of

him.He cares little for the old king, he speaks kindly only to give the appearance of loving

brother.

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death

The memory be green, and that it us befitted

To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom

To be contracted in one brow of woe . (Act 1 ,Scene 2 ,Line 1)

The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch ,

But we will ship him hence : and this vile deed

We must , with all our majesty and skill ,

Both countenance and excuse .Ho , Guildenstern.

(Act 4 ,Scene 1 ,Line 32 )

One of the characters who is hiding himself behind a mask is Polonius He always

wants to keep up the appearance of loving and caring person. He appears like a man who
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loves and cares about his son,. Polonius speaks to his son with advice that sounds sincere but

in reality it is rehearsed, hollow and without feeling. Polonius gives his advice only to appear

to be the loving caring father. The reality is he only speaks to appear sincere as a politician, to

look good rather then actually be good: "With what , i’ the name of God?" (Act 2 , Scene 1,

line 73 )

The Ghost gives Hamlet, who is already disgusted with his mother for marrying his

uncle such a short time after his father's death, even more disturbing information about the

Queen:

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,

With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,

O wicked wit, and gifts that have the power

So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust

The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. ( Act 1,Scene V , Line 42-46)

From behind this mask they give the impression of a person

who seems sincere which makes Hamlet’s situation diffucult to recover the truth.

The King says, “A serpent stung me, so the whole ear of Denmark,

Is by a forged process of my death.”(Act 1, Scene 5, Line 41-42)

As Hamlet finds out, all contain lies and have hidden intentions within them. Since

each character is presented in the play all appear to be good and honest making it a difficult

task for Hamlet to uncover the hidden truth about the nature of each character .