Hidden Emotions In Shakespeare's Hamlet

In a world where humans are frequently told to accept one another’s flaws and imperfections, one may still feel the pressure to meet the societal standards of both appearance and personality. In order to fulfill these standards, humans tend to hide their true self from others, and these hidden emotions are commonly expressed through any form of theater or art in which that individual can relate to. With the authentic emotions of an individual revealed, a certain truth in reality is discovered about that person. Although Shakespeare lived in a different era, the characters in his play, Hamlet, reveal that the times have not changed since many truths in reality are uncovered when the characters’ emotions are revealed through theater or art. Ophelia, who uses music as a type of art to explain her feelings, reveals to her family the reality that she is descending into madness. Similarly, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s true self is uncovered due to their poor …show more content…
Firstly, Ophelia’s feelings regarding her father’s strict rules and Hamlet’s rejection of her love are revealed to others by singing, leading her family and friends to realize that she is descending into madness. As a result of acting, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern accidentally reveal their true intentions to Hamlet, who then determines their reality of death. Claudius, who tries to cover up his guilty conscience, has his emotions revealed through a theater performance Hamlet shows him, consequently leading to his fate. Unfortunately, one’s future becomes clear through their inability to resist the temptations of expressing their secret emotions though art or theater. No matter how much humans try to hide their identities to fit in to society, the truth will always be