What is the difference between Hamlet’s madness and Ophelia’s? Is there a marked difference in their behavior and speech? The theme of madness is one of the main themes in the tragedy Hamlet. Hamlet pretends to be mad and Ophelia is driven to actual madness and even suicide. Hamlet starts to act as a madman to avenge the death of his father by his uncle.
There is much evidence in the play that Hamlet deliberately feigned fits of madness in order to confuse and disconcert the king and his attendants. His avowed intention to act "strange or odd" and to "put an antic disposition on" 1 (I. v. 170, 172) is not the only indication. The latter phrase, which is of doubtful interpretation, should be taken in its context and in connection with his other remarks that bear on the same question. To his old friend, Guildenstem, he intimates that "his uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived," and that he is only "mad north-north-west." (II.
Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude all put up a facade in an attempt to get what they want, and these characters play their roles behind a veil of duplicity. The theme of appearance versus reality gives shape to Hamlet’s, Claudius’, and Gertrude’s characters, as they all try to conceal their true emotions that stem from King Hamlet’s death. Hamlet has been interpreted as a tragic figure due to the poisonous misfortune that is inflicted upon him. It is abnormal that Hamlet cannot find the will to avenge his father’s death immediately. The full conflict of which he feels and keeps concealed within himself is not explained.
RICHARD DAVIDSON The Theme of Spying in Hamlet Within Hamlet, there is an intricately interconnected subterfuge of deceit, much of which stems from the act of spying. Throughout the play the audience is left confused by the protagonist’s erratic behaviour and the conspiring of numerous other characters, mostly from Claudius’ command, against the title character. Despite the fact that it is Hamlet himself who introduces the theme of spying, intending for his “antic disposition” to serve as a method of shielding his true nature from the King, he also appears to suffer severe repercussions from the deception and uncertainty that is rife within the play. This results in Hamlet’s true mental state becoming a matter of intense debate for the audience. In one of the early ironies of the play, Hamlet’s antic disposition, though intended to alleviate suspicion of his actions, only serves to confuse the King and inspire his decision to use Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as spies against his nephew.
The play consists of a series of treacheries and conspiracies against authority. At the center of this power struggle is Prospero, who is the protagonist. He is driven by vengeance after he is deposed by his brother Antonio and he wants to get his throne back. A deeper analysis of the play reveals that Prospero uses his magical powers to manipulate and control others, benefit only himself and achieve his goals. At first glance of the play Prospero can be seen as a character who uses his power for the benefit of other characters.
The character of Edmund in Shakespeare’s King Lear a complex antagonist whose quest for power, and the treatment he deserves from society fuels the subplot. Cunning, deceitful, and a villain, Edmund will do whatever it takes to achieve his objectives, even if it means betraying the people who love him most. Edmund plays a key role in setting the stage for the disaster waiting to unfold, which is the subplot. Initially, the audience sympathizes with Edmund’s character; society treats him poorly, and his own father publicly embarrasses him. In Act 1 Scene 1, when Kent asks Gloucester if Edmund is his Gloucester’s son, he replies “his breeding hath been at my charge” (1.1.9) yet Gloucester “blushed to acknowledge [Edmund]” (1.1.10).
Hamlet also expresses the possibilities that the ghost could have been the devil. Although hamlet gets upset with himself he believes that the play he arranged would display Claudius’ guilt and then he will know for sure he killed his father. This reveals to the audience that Hamlet is a procrastinator and he is a coward. In Hamlet’s fifth soliloquy he contemplates the idea of suicide, he suggests that maybe the only reason we choose life is because we know so little about death other than it Is final. After contemplation Hamlet decides not to take his own life.
“The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.” – Leonardo da Vinci People go through life deceiving themselves and others just from their ideas, beliefs, opinions, and speculations, sometimes intentionally, sometimes accidentally. In the play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, Hamlet and the whole cast of characters allow their ideas, beliefs, opinions and speculations to all intertwine and create conflict. Deception and corruption strikes the state of Denmark when King Hamlet Sr. is murdered and quickly diffuses itself affecting even the innocent. The corruption and deception spreads like fire developing internal and external issue in Hamlet. His insanity leads to his mother’s devastation which leads to the death of innocent people.
Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is full of tricks, ruses, deceptions and conspiracies. The play also contains many details that support a theme of rottenness or foulness. Because of this, it is easy for the reader to be driven to the conclusion that Hamlet is, in fact, primarily a revenge play. However, in Hamlet the word revenge takes on a different meaning because it is actually Hamlets delay in avenging the murder of his father that makes this play a tragedy. The prince’s inability to act and tendency toward melancholy refection is a “tragic flaw” that leads inevitably to his demise.
Through anger, jealousy and the knowledge of knowing that something will be given and awarded, Claudius betrays his brother, Hamlet Sr; by murdering him with the action of luring poison in his ear while Hamlet Sr. was asleep. "I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder: my crown, my own ambition, and my queen"(Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 53-55). One sees that Claudius commits this hateful action because of his want and desire to be the ruler, he wants to be king of Denmark and marry Gertrude, by wanting this he has convinced himself to do whatever it takes to reach his accomplished goal. Claudius’ actions of betrayal continue when he betrays his own wife by indirectly killing her, he did not inform her that the cup has been poisoned even with his knowledge of the poison in the cup. “It is a poisoned cup; it is too late for Gertrude” (Act 5, Scene 2, Line 282).