William Shakespeare is one of the worlds most famous play writers and poets of all history. His plays all consist of various themes and have different messages that he wishes to put across. In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the theme of appearance vs. reality, what seems to be vs. what it really is, is revealed constantly through out the play. The characters Hamlet, Polonius and Claudius portrayed this theme exceptionally well. These characters show others who they want to be seen as, while in reality are the complete opposite.
The character Hamlet was one who portrayed the theme of appearance vs. reality quite well. Throughout the play Hamlet appears to act insane but in reality is just pretending only to avenge his father’s death and to kill …show more content…
reality quite well. Claudius’s character was seen as loyal, loving and true, but was other wise a cold hearted, wicked character. In the beginning of the play, Claudius gets married to Gertrude, the queen of Denmark, two months after the death of his brother and her deceased husband. Claudius says “Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death. The memory be green, and that it as befitted to bear our hearts in grief” (Shakespeare act 1, scene 2 lines 1-3), he appears to be a person who loves his wife, the kingdom and misses his brother but in reality he was the one who killed his brother and only married Gertrude to be king. He puts on an act to hide what his true intentions were and what he really …show more content…
reality is through his relationship with his wife Gertrude. Claudius supposedly loves Gertrude and would do anything to protect her, but at one point in the play he shows himself for whom he really is. When Hamlet fought with Laertes in a fencing match and Hamlet won, Claudius gives Hamlet a victory drink that was poisoned and was intended to kill him, but instead Gertrude drinks it. Before she drinks it, Claudius says “Gertrude, do not drink. It’s a poisoned cup. It is too late” (Shakespeare act 5, scene 2 lines 289,290-291), he hardly tries to stop her from drinking it. If Claudius’s feeling were truly sincere for Gertrude, he would have done much more to prevent her from poisoning herself. Claudius’s actions showed that he only appeared to love Gertrude, but in reality never truly
The character Hamlet was one who portrayed the theme of appearance vs. reality quite well. Throughout the play Hamlet appears to act insane but in reality is just pretending only to avenge his father’s death and to kill …show more content…
reality quite well. Claudius’s character was seen as loyal, loving and true, but was other wise a cold hearted, wicked character. In the beginning of the play, Claudius gets married to Gertrude, the queen of Denmark, two months after the death of his brother and her deceased husband. Claudius says “Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death. The memory be green, and that it as befitted to bear our hearts in grief” (Shakespeare act 1, scene 2 lines 1-3), he appears to be a person who loves his wife, the kingdom and misses his brother but in reality he was the one who killed his brother and only married Gertrude to be king. He puts on an act to hide what his true intentions were and what he really …show more content…
reality is through his relationship with his wife Gertrude. Claudius supposedly loves Gertrude and would do anything to protect her, but at one point in the play he shows himself for whom he really is. When Hamlet fought with Laertes in a fencing match and Hamlet won, Claudius gives Hamlet a victory drink that was poisoned and was intended to kill him, but instead Gertrude drinks it. Before she drinks it, Claudius says “Gertrude, do not drink. It’s a poisoned cup. It is too late” (Shakespeare act 5, scene 2 lines 289,290-291), he hardly tries to stop her from drinking it. If Claudius’s feeling were truly sincere for Gertrude, he would have done much more to prevent her from poisoning herself. Claudius’s actions showed that he only appeared to love Gertrude, but in reality never truly